Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with participation in sports and physical education among students from Londrina, Paraná State, Brazil

This study aimed to analyze factors associated with participation in sports and physical education. The sample consisted of 827 young people selected in two stages and stratified by neighborhood of Londrina, Parana State, Brazil. The study analyzed participation in sports and physical education in relation to socio-demographic, behavioral, and environmental variables. Factors associated with participation in physical education included: male gender, age (10-13 years), equal to high self-rated physical activity, participation in sports, moving around during classes, and having classes on the court. Factors associated with participation in sports were male gender, age (10-13 years), equal to high self-rated physical activity, physical activity (≥ 7 hours/week), participation in physical education, having ≥ 10 friends, participation in sports with friends, and frequency using facilities for sports practice. These factors should be considered in programs to encourage sports and participation in physical education.
[The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged in Kaunas population].

AIM To assess the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among middle-aged Kaunas population. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 433 (192 males and 241 females, mean age 38.8+/-0.3 years) asymptomatic individuals have been investigated. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed using International Diabetes Federation definition criteria - central obesity (the waist circumference > or =94 cm for men and > or =80 cm for women) plus any two of the following four factors: elevated triglycerides (Tg) (> or =1.7 mmol/L), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (<1.0 mmol/L for men and <1.3 mmol/L for women), blood pressure (BP) of 130/85 or higher (systolic pressure >130 mmHg or a diastolic pressure >85 mmHg) or hyperglycemia (> or =5.6 mmol/L). RESULTS The metabolic syndrome was present in 21.7% (28.1% among males and 16.6% among females) of individuals. Furthermore, 41.1% had an increased waist circumference, 56.4% had elevated BP (130/85 or higher), 31.2% had elevated plasma glucose concentration, 19.9% had low HDL-C cholesterol values and 14.1% had increased Tg values. Significantly higher concentration (1.16 mg/L, alpha<0,001, beta<0.001) of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein has been established in individuals with the metabolic syndrome. An increased concentration (>3 mg/L) of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was more prevalent (17.3%) in the cohort with metabolic syndrome. Concentration of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein directly correlated with the waist and hips circumference, body mass index, concentration of Tg, glucose and BP. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among middle-aged Kaunas residents was 22%. Metabolic syndrome and central obesity correlated with elevated concentration of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Moderately (1-3 mg/L) and severely (>3 mg/L) elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels increase the chance of metabolic syndrome by 4.15 and 7.39 times, respectively (p=0,000). An innovative approach towards cardiovascular risk assessment integrating traditional cardiovascular risk factors, metabolic syndrome and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein values could improve the risk stratification in asymptomatic middle-aged population.
Direct Screening of Clinical Specimens for Multiple Respiratory Pathogens Using the Genaco Respiratory Panels 1 and 2

We report here on the results of a pilot study comparing our clinical diagnostic virology laboratory's current methods of respiratory pathogen detection against the Genaco Respiratory Infections Panels 1 and 2. These assays employ xMap (Luminex) liquid phase bead conjugated array technology to facilitate automated detection of PCR and RT-PCR products, which provides potential for levels of assay multiplexing above those currently practical with either conventional gel-resolved or real-time methods. In the study presented here we used the Genaco panels to simultaneously screen previously analyzed clinical specimens (nasopharyngeal washings) for twenty-one important pathogens. Our results indicate the Genaco panels met or exceeded our current methods' sensitivity and specificity although allowing for detection of a wider range of infectious agents than practical by current diagnostic laboratory practices. In addition, the Genaco panels provided data on the presence of multiple respiratory pathogens in single specimens, which would otherwise be missed in most instances. To our knowledge, this study represents the first trial of these panels on standard clinical specimens in a routine diagnostic setting.
Fault-tolerant consideration and active stabilization for floating interleaved boost converter system

It is well know that the interaction between poorly damped LC input filter with dc-dc converter lead to degradation of dynamic performance and fault scenario of the system. This problem also often occurs in fuel cell systems. Due to the relatively low and unregulated output voltage, the high gain boost converter is need in such application. A floating interleaved boost converter (FIBC) is selected as a good candidate to achieve this desired effect. In order to ensure the system stability, this paper addresses a method which permits to design a fault-tolerant stabilizing system for the proposed converter and the filter. It consists in implementing an active stabilizer for each switch. Afterward, a method to design fault-tolerant stabilizing system is developed. The simulation results are reported to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Comparison of chronic autoimmune urticaria with chronic idiopathic urticaria

Background Chronic urticaria has been described in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection. Despite numerous studies, the correlation between H. pylori infection and chronic urticaria is doubtful. Our study was performed to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection in autoimmune urticaria and in patients suffering from autoimmune urticaria and autoimmune thyroiditis
Arabidopsis thaliana Flavoprotein AtHAL3a Catalyzes the Decarboxylation of 4′-Phosphopantothenoylcysteine to 4′-Phosphopantetheine, a Key Step in Coenzyme A Biosynthesis*

The Arabidopsis thaliana flavoprotein AtHAL3a is related to plant growth and salt and osmotic tolerance. AtHAL3a shows sequence homology to the bacterial flavoproteins EpiD and Dfp. EpiD, Dfp, and AtHAL3a are members of the homo-oligomeric flavin-containing Cys decarboxylase (HFCD) protein family. We demonstrate that AtHAL3a catalyzes the decarboxylation of (R)-4′-phospho-N-pantothenoylcysteine to 4′-phosphopantetheine. This key step in coenzyme A biosynthesis is catalyzed in bacteria by the Dfp proteins. Exchange of His-90 of AtHAL3a for Asn led to complete inactivation of the enzyme. Dfp and AtHAL3a are characterized by a shortened substrate binding clamp compared with EpiD. Exchange of the cysteine residue of the conserved ACGD motif of this binding clamp resulted in loss of (R)-4′-phospho-N-pantothenoylcysteine decarboxylase activity. Based on the crystal structures of EpiD H67N with bound substrate peptide and of AtHAL3a, we present a model for the binding of (R)-4′-phospho-N-pantothenoylcysteine to AtHAL3a.
Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT), cytochemistry, and membrane receptors in adult acute leukemia.

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity, immunologic membrane markers, and cytochemical reactivity were examined in blasts of 80 adults with acute leukemia. The study was interinstitutional and prospective so that some assessment could be made of the usefulness and practicality of these tests in the classification of adult acute leukemias. Initial classification as to the type of acute leukemia was based primarily on cytochemistry and only secondarily on the morphology of the abnormal cells. Terminal transferase was uniformly elevated in eight of eight patients with null and T cell lymphoblastic leukemia and two of two patients with null cell lymphoma leukemia, whereas it was elevated in only 3 of 27 specimens defined cytochemically as acute myeloblastic leukemia. Terminal transferase activities were low in 24 of 27 patients with acute myelomonocytic, acute monocytic, and lymphoma leukemia of B or T cell type. Blasts from 17 of 80 patients did not show distinctive patterns of cytochemical staining, and these patients were classified as having acute undifferentiated leukemia. When these 17 coded specimens were submitted to a panel of four hematologists and classified by each as lymphoid or nonlymphoid based on morphology, there was disagreement in 9 of the 17. In this situation the usefulness of additional methods of cellular classification such as terminal transferase and membrane markers became manifest.
Protection against group B Neisseria meningitidis disease: effect of serogroup B polysaccharide and polymyxin B on immunogenicity of serotype protein preparations

The inability to prepare an effective polysaccharide vaccine against group B Neisseria meningitidis was the impetus for these studies. Outer membrane protein vaccines used in our initial studies failed to induce bactericidal antibodies in humans. The particulate nature of these vaccines may have led to their clearance before effective immune stimulation. Less denaturing procedures, therefore, were developed for preparation of serotype 2 protein-containing vaccines. These procedures included isolation of naturally released outer membrane vesicles and selective removal of lipopolysaccharide from the vesicles by the nonionic detergent Brij-96. The resultant protein vaccines were evaluated with and without noncovalently complexed group B meningococcal polysaccharide or polymyxin B sulfate or both. The new vaccines were at least 10-fold more immunogenic in mice and guinea pigs than the previous vaccines when assayed for bactericidal and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay antibodies. The protein vaccines alone protected guinea pigs from intrachamber infection, and a single 0.1-microgram injection prevented meningococcal bacteremia in mice. Addition of group B polysaccharide to the protein significantly improved the immunogenicity of the protein, and this combined vaccine showed a greater protective effect. Polymyxin B generally reduced the immunogenicity of the vaccines in both mice and guinea pigs.
Single crystals of amylose V complexes.

In the present paper our previous results and Manley's results for single crystals of amylose V complexes are confirmed. A reasonable interpretation of electron diffraction patterns from lamellar crystals of the monohydrated complex and of the anhydrous complex is presented. It is concluded that the longer side of rectangular lamellae corresponds to the a axis of the unit cell of the wet complex, and that the crystal structure does not have hexagonal symmetry at the time when the lamellar crystals are formed in the supercooled solution. The mode of chain packing in the single crystals is described and discussed.
EEG signal analysis for brain-computer interfaces for large public applications. (Analyse de signaux EEG pour des applications grand-public des interfaces cerveau-machine)

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) use signals from the brain to control machines and devices (keyboards , cars, neuro- prostheses) . After several decades of development, modern BCI techniques show a relative maturity compared to the past decades and receive more and more attention in real-world general public applications, in particular in the domain of BCI-based human-computer interactions for healthy people, such as neuro-games. The aim of this thesis is to develop an experimental setup and signal processing algorithms for non-invasive, portable and easy-to-use BCI systems for large public (non-medical) applications. To achieve this goal, a review of the state of the art (existing prototypes and commercial products, experimental setup, algorithms) is first performed to get a full scope and a good understanding in this field. The main contributions of this thesis include: 1) a hybrid BCI paradigm with a few electrodes , 2) dimensionality reduction for multi-channel BCI (with a high number of electrodes ), 3) reduction and selection channel , 4) improved classification for BCI with a few predetermined electrodes. The experimental results show that the methods proposed in this thesis can improve classification performance and / or increase the efficiency of the system ( for example, reduce the learning time, reduce the cost of equipment ) , so as to contribute to BCI for the general applications.
Hatching Asynchrony and Feeding Rates in Yellow Warblers: A Test of the Sexual Conflict Hypothesis

T. Slagsvold and J. T. Lifjeld have proposed that hatching asynchrony in bird species in which only the female incubates is a strategy used by females to extract more parental investment from their mates. We examined this hypothesis by comparing feeding rates of female and male yellow warblers (Dendroica petechia) tending asynchronously and synchronously hatched broods. Regardless of brood size, feeding rates during the early, middle, and late nestling periods were similar for females tending asynchronously and synchronously hatched broods. Nevertheless, there was a general trend for females tending asynchronous broods to have lower feeding rates, which suggests that females may prefer hatching asynchrony. This is consistent with the sexual conflict hypothesis. Male feeding rates exhibited trends similar to those of females. That is, although the result is not statistically significant, males tending asynchronous broods, regardless of brood size, generally made fewer feeds than males tending synchronously hatched broods. However, males tending asynchronous broods of five did make significantly fewer feeds during the early nestling period than males tending similar-sized synchronous broods. This was also true when the data were combined across brood sizes. This suggests, contrary to the sexual conflict hypothesis, that males, especially those tending larger broods, should favor hatching asynchrony. Consequently, the sexes do not appear to be in conflict as to when incubation should begin, but rather females and males prefer, or at the very least are neutral with respect to, the initiation of incubation prior to clutch completion.
Impact of culprit plaque composition on the no-reflow phenomenon in patients with acute coronary syndrome: an intravascular ultrasound radiofrequency analysis.

BACKGROUND The difference in the culprit plaque composition of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with and without the no-reflow phenomenon has not been fully evaluated. METHODS AND RESULTS Intravascular ultrasound radiofrequency data of culprit plaques were obtained and analyzed in 49 ACS patients. The no-reflow phenomenon was defined as a decrease of at least 1 grade in 'Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction' flow immediately after mechanical dilatation compared with before mechanical dilatation, with no evidence of thrombus, spasm, or dissection. The no-reflow phenomenon was observed in 9 individuals. Culprit plaques with the no-reflow phenomenon contained a higher percentage of necrotic core component and a smaller percentage of fibrous component than plaques in the patients without the no-reflow phenomenon (necrotic core component, 22.1+/-9.3% vs 11.7+/-7.9%, p=0.0011; fibrous component, 59.6+/-11.2% vs 68.3+/-10.2%, p=0.027). Multivariate analysis identified the percentage of necrotic core component as an independent predictor of the no-reflow phenomenon after adjustment for plaque geometry and procedural factors (odds ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 2.5; p=0.015). CONCLUSION Culprit plaques of patients with the no-reflow phenomenon differ from those in patients without the no-reflow phenomenon.
Theoretical and Experimental Analyses of Photovoltaic Systems with Voltage and Current-Based Maximum Power Point Tracking

Detailed theoretical and experimental analyses are presented for the comparison of two simple fast and reliable maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques for photovoltaic systems (PV): the voltage-based (VMPPT) and the current-based (CMPPT) approaches. A microprocessor-controlled tracker capable of online voltage and current measurements and programmed with both VMPPT and CMPPT algorithms is constructed. The load of the solar system is either a water pump or a resistance. Simulink facilities are used for simulation and modeling of the novel trackers. The main advantage of this new MPPT, as compared with present trackers, is the elimination of reference (dummy) cells, which results in a more efficient, less expensive, and more reliable PV system.
Childbearing history, later-life health, and mortality in Germany

Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, we investigated the role of childbearing history in later-life health and mortality, paying particular attention to possible differences by sex and region. Higher parity is associated with better self-rated health in West German mothers and fathers aged 50+, but its relationship with East German women's physical health and survival is negative. Early motherhood is paralleled by poorer physical health in West Germany, whereas late motherhood is associated with lower psychological well-being in Eastern Germany. Moreover, among West German women, having had a non-marital first birth is weakly correlated with poorer physical health. Our findings support the notion of biosocial pathways playing an important role in shaping the fertility–health nexus. Specifically, the West German ‘male-breadwinner’ model of specialization appears to have buffered the stresses associated with childrearing, whereas fertility off the ‘normative’ life-course track appears to have had adverse effects on women's health in West Germany.
Getting to 90: linkage to HIV care among men who have sex with men and people who inject drugs in India

ABSTRACT UNAIDS set an ambitious target of “90-90-90” by 2020. The first 90 being 90% of those HIV-infected will be diagnosed; the second 90 being 90% of those diagnosed will be linked to medical care and on antiretroviral therapy (ART). While there has been dramatic improvement in HIV testing and ART use, substantial losses continue to occur at linkage-to-care following HIV diagnosis. Data on linkage among men who have sex with men (MSM) and people who inject drugs (PWID) are sparse, despite a greater burden of HIV in these populations. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 27 sites across India. Participants were recruited using respondent-driven sampling and had to be ≥18 years and self-identify as male and report sex with a man in the prior year (MSM) or injection drug use in the prior 2 years (PWID). Analyses were restricted to HIV-infected persons aware of their status. Linkage was defined as ever visiting a doctor for management of HIV after diagnosis. We explored factors that discriminated between those linked and not linked to care using multi-level logistic regression and area under the receiver operating curves (AUC), focusing on modifiable factors. Of 1726 HIV-infected persons aware of their status, 80% were linked to care. Modifiable factors around the time of diagnosis that best discriminated linkage included receiving assistance with HIV medical care (odds ratio [OR]: 10.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]): 5.6–18.2), disclosure of HIV-positive status (OR: 2.8; 95% CI: 2.4–6.1) and receiving information and counseling on management of HIV (OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1–4.6). The AUC for these three factors together was 0.85, higher than other combinations of factors. We identified three simple modifiable factors around the time of diagnosis that could facilitate linkage to care among MSM and PWID in low- and middle-income countries to achieve UNAIDS targets.
Uncertainty, Evolution, and Economic Theory

A modification of economic analysis to incorporate incomplete information and uncertain foresight as axioms is suggested here. This approach dispenses with “profit maximization”; and it does not rely on the predictable, individual behavior that is usually assumed, as a first approximation, in standard textbook treatments. Despite these changes, the analytical concepts usually associated with such behavior are retained because they are not dependent upon such motivation or foresight. The suggested approach embodies the principles of biological evolution and natural selection by interpreting the economic system as an adoptive mechanism which chooses among exploratory actions generated by the adaptive pursuit of “success” or “profit. ” The resulting analysis is applicable to actions usually regarded as aberrations from standard economic behavior as well as to behavior covered by the customary analysis. This wider applicability and the removal of the unrealistic postulates of accurate anticipations and fixed states of knowledge have provided motivation for the study.
PARATHYROID HYPERPLASIA IN RABBITS PRODUCED BY PARENTERAL PHOSPHATE ADMINISTRATION.

Frolmi the observations of Bergstrand (1) and others (2, 3, 4) it has become an established fact that some cases of chronic renal insufficiency are accompanied by enlargement of the parathyroid glands. The condition was well exemplified by a case recently studied at the Massachusetts General Hospital in which chronic glomerular nephritis had existed for more than twenty years, and in which necropsy revealed tremendous enlargement of all parathyroid glands (5). The question as to the cause of the parathyroid enlargement arises. It was suggested by Albright, Baird, Cope and Bloomberg (6) that the phosphate retention in chronic renal insufficiency might be the determining factor. When the blood phosphate level is raised by intravenous phosphate administration, hypocalcemia and tetany ensue (7). It seemed not unlikely that either hyperphosphatemia or the resulting hypocalcemia might be a stimulus to parathyroid hyperplasia. The present investigations were undertaken to determine the effect of administration of parenteral phosphate on the parathyroid glands of rabbits.
[Efficacy of 0.1 mg of subarachnoid morphine combined with bupivacaine on postoperative analgesia in total hip arthroplasty].

OBJECTIVES To analyze the analgesic efficacy, safety and side effects of subarachnoid morphine (0.1 mg) with bupivacaine in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty patients scheduled for total hip replacement under spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine were randomly assigned to two groups according to whether local anesthetic with 0.1 mg subarachnoid morphine was also provided or not (group M [n = 15] and group S ņ = 15[, respectively). Top-up analgesia with morphine was available through a patient-controlled device. Postoperative pain was assessed on a visual analogue scale (VAS) and consumption of intravenous morphine in the first 48 hours after surgery was recorded. RESULTS VAS scores (mean +/- SD) were significantly lower in the first six hours in group M, but no differences between the two groups were observed thereafter. Total consumption of morphine at 48 hours was much lower in group M (6.80 +/- 7.74 mg) than in group S (31.38 +/- 13.17 mg). The incidence of nausea was high in both groups (46%). Slight pruritus affected 26.6% of patients in group M. Urinary retention necessitating temporary placement of a catheter was observed only in group M, where the incidence was 35.7%. No cases of respiratory depression occurred. Drowsiness was observed in 26.6% of patients in group S in comparison with 6.6% in group M. CONCLUSIONS Combining 0.1 mg morphine and bupivacaine for total spinal anesthesia during hip arthroplasty significantly decreased the consumption of intravenous morphine during the first 48 hours after surgery. No respiratory depression occurred and the only side effects were urinary retention and mild pruritus and drowsiness.