Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential Control Rate of Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure among Korean Adults with Hypertension: the Sixth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013–2015 (KNHANES VI)

Background and Objectives Discrepancy in blood pressure (BP) control rate may be owed to different risk factors associated with elevated systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP). Methods In a nationally representative survey of Korean population with BP measurements, a total of 5,100 participants with hypertension was included in the analyses. Three separate types of control rates were calculated: SBP, DBP, and (combined) S&DBP among all participants with hypertension and participants with treated hypertension, separately. Control rates were compared across sex and age groups. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify demographic factors associated with SBP, DBP, and S&DBP control rates, separately. Results In total, SBP, DBP, and S&DBP control rates were 63.0%, 63.7%, and 42.5% among all hypertension patients, and 77.5%, 87.4%, and 71.6% among treated hypertension patients. Men aged 40–49 years with hypertension and 30–39 years treated for hypertension had the highest SBP control rate (74.6% and 96.2%), which decreased by older age. Inversely, DBP control rate progressively increased with older age. SBP control rate among women with hypertension was the highest in 40–49 years (67.0%) but without linear trend by age group. Interestingly, both combined and DBP control rates were noticeably low among women aged 50–59 years. Women with body mass index ≥25 were at higher odds of having controlled SBP. Lower DBP control rate was observed in men with lower education level, higher household income, and heavy drinkers. Conclusions Separate examination of control rates demonstrated different sex- and age-differential trends, which would have been overlooked in combined control rates.
Foot Inertial Sensing for Combined Cognitive-Motor Exercise of the Sustained Attention Domain

Objective: In the past decade, cognitive training tools have been used to improve brain functioning, and some have been applied to cognitive decline in dementia. Recently, research studies have demonstrated that aerobic exercise could play an important restorative role toward cognitive impairments. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to present the innovative use of the SmartWalk tool, which combines aerobic exercise and cognitive protocols traditionally used to stimulate cognitive function. Methods: The primary goal of this study to demonstrate if our tool is correlated with traditional computerized test in stimulating the cognitive system similarly, despite the fact that SmartWalk adds a supplementary physical load on the task. The SmartWalk tool was tested with a total of 49 subjects—29 healthy subjects and 20 subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairments. The participants were asked to perform both the tests to fulfil the proposed goal. Results: The results obtained considering the overall population show a good and significant (p < 0.05) correlation for the “correct,” “error,” and “omitted” scores (r = 0.54, r = 0.34, and r = 0.39, respectively). Conclusion: The results suggest a good correlation between the two approaches with the advantage of adding aerobic exercise to the traditional cognitive task. Significance: The results of this study may be useful in designing ecological and combined cognitive-physical tool to personalize interventions and delay the onset of cognitive disorders like dementia.
SUBSTANCES ABUSE AMONG COMMERCIAL TRICYCLE RIDERS IN KANO METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

The study examined the nature, extent and patterns of substance intake by tricycle riders in Kano metropolis. The objectives of the study were to find out the most common substances abused, the reasons for the abuse, the socio-economic characteristics of the abusers, the patterns of substance abuse and the impact of substance abuse on the riders and Kano community. A total of 365 respondents were interviewed using the Snowball sampling technique. The Gateway and Availability proneness theories were used as guiding perspectives for the study. The study revealed that male youths between the ages of 24-29 years abuse substances more. The substances abused include marijuana, tobacco, Lizard droppings, Gadangi, Zagami, Rubber solution, Benelyn syrup, paint thinners, and nail polish removers to mention but a few. The reason for the intake of the substances range from to increase work performance, increase sexual performance, to suppress anxiety to being bold. It also revealed that substances abused by the tricycle riders affect their health and reduce level of productivity as well as increase in high accident risks on highways. There is significant relationship between age and substance abuse. The paper solicited for strict laws against abuse of psychoactive drugs by NDLEA and Law Enforcement Agencies as well as an increase in awareness campaigns by government against the upsurge in substance abuse.
The Use of Sugarcane Stalk for Feeding Lactating Cows

The use of chopped sugarcane stalk (CSS) as a roughage for lactating cows was examined using four Holstein crossbred cows in a private dairy farm in Khon Kaen, Thailand, in comparison with rice straw (RS), which is the conventional roughage in the dry season in the region. Cows were subjected to the following two dietary treatments: Diet 1) RS with commercial concentrate feed, and Diet 2) CSS and RS with commercial concentrate feed. The diet was switched over every 3 weeks. The amount of concentrate was determined by the experience of the owner of the cows. RS and CSS were given ad libitum. There was no difference in milk production between two groups, although the total DMI was less in cows fed CSS. Solid-not-fat (SNF) content in milk was significantly higher in the cows given CSS. The NEFA content was significantly lower in the animals given CSS, which suggested that cows given only RS as roughage would be suffering from energy malnutrition. Therefore, it was considered that CSS feeding improved energy supply, which resulted in higher SNF in milk. In the nutritional point of view, the present study clearly showed CSS can be used as a roughage for dairy cows in the dry season. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2002. Vol 15, No. 2 : 205-208)
Asian Livestock Industry Leaders’ Perceptions of the Importance of, and Solutions for, Animal Welfare Issues

Simple Summary Livestock industry leaders are in a unique position to understand the challenges to the welfare of farm animals and to enact solutions that improve the lives of the animals they work with. Despite this, these important stakeholders are seldom consulted in this regard and their attitudes and opinions on animal welfare issues are largely unknown. This is particularly the case when considering livestock stakeholders in Asia and the previous lack of collaboration with international animal welfare advocates. To address this, focus group consultation sessions were organised across six countries; China, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, aiming to better understand the positions of livestock industry leaders, and to consult them on potential initiatives to improve livestock welfare in their country. This study presents a ranking of animal welfare issues by importance as considered by livestock leaders, solutions and opportunities identified by the leaders, and suggests initiatives proposed in each country. This study aims to better inform international animal welfare strategies in order to facilitate the development of the most effective programs and initiatives. Abstract The welfare of farm animals has been the focus of increasing international interest, however, the movement has had little engagement with livestock leaders who are, arguably, the stakeholders in the position most able to make decisions that impact on animal welfare at critical times. Previous studies have drawn attention to the need to engage in constructive collaborations with the livestock industry for the betterment of animal welfare, and to uncover mutual benefits for both stakeholders and proponents of animal welfare with which collaborations can be motivated. This study aimed to continue this need to understand leaders in livestock management, by consulting their opinions as to what constitutes the most critical animal welfare issues during farming and slaughter, and what they see as some of the solutions to begin addressing livestock welfare issues in their country. Seventeen focus group sessions were held with 139 leaders in livestock industries in six diverse countries in Asia, including China, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Bangladesh. Leaders included government representatives, key academics in agriculture, and business managers and leaders within the domestic animal agriculture industries, as relevant to each country. After conducting thematic analysis and applying basic statistical measures, the findings suggest that solutions within the themes of education, training, and awareness are most valued. However, how each of these could be best addressed varied by country. The need for local research and local solutions also contributed to the most frequent opportunities, as did the requirement for prescriptive and consistent standards and expectations. A ranking of animal welfare issues is presented, as is a selection of suggested animal welfare initiatives resulting from the findings of this study.
The Influence of Audit Risk and Materiality Guidelines on Auditors’ Planning Materiality Assessment

At present, methods to improve auditquality and auditing decisions are being debated by standard setters andresearchers worldwide. Materiality has been and continues to be a topic ofimportance for auditors.Audit quality is primarilyinfluenced by two factors: the requirements of standard setters and theprofessional judgment of auditors. Materiality judgment is primarily determinedby the subjective judgment of the auditor because there is a lack of clear, standardizedguidelines for such judgments. Thus, the same materiality issue could be judgeddifferently by different auditors. Auditors’ materiality judgments areimportant because they significantly influence what information is recorded inthe accounts, disclosed in financial statements and made available to externalparties for decision-making. The objective of this study is to examine theinfluence that audit risk and quantitative guidelines have on the assessment ofplanning materiality and on the adjustment of material misstatements. We use acase study and conduct an experiment. The study results provide evidence thatthe standardization and implementation of quantitative materiality guidelinesresult in a smaller range of planning materiality judgments. This paperdiscusses the implications of those findings.
Simultaneous Determination and Analysis of Major Ginsenosides in Wild American Ginseng Grown in Tennessee

Ginsenosides are the major constituent that is responsible for the health effects of American ginseng. The ginsenoside profile of wild American ginseng is ultimately the result of germplasm, climate, geography, vegetation species, water, and soil conditions. This is the first report to address the ginsenoside profile of wild American ginseng grown in Tennessee (TN), the third leading state for production of wild American ginseng. In the present study, ten major ginsenosides in wild American ginseng roots grown in TN, including Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1, Rg2, and Rg3, were determined simultaneously. The chemotypic differences among TN wild ginseng, cultivated American ginseng, and Asian ginseng were assessed based on the widely used markers of ginsenoside profiling, including the top three ginsenosides, ratios of PPD/PPT, Rg1/Rb1, Rg1/Re, and Rb2/Rc. Our findings showed marked variation in ginsenoside profile for TN wild ginseng populations. Nevertheless, TN wild ginseng has significant higher ginsenoside content and more ginsenoside diversity than the cultivated ginseng. The total ginsenoside content in TN wild ginseng, as well as ginsenosides Rg1 and Re, increases with the age of the roots. Marked chemotypic differences between TN wild ginseng and cultivated American ginseng were observed based on the chemotypic markers. Surprisingly, we found that TN wild ginseng is close to Asian ginseng with regard to these characteristics in chemical composition. This study verified an accessible method to scientifically elucidate the difference in chemical constituents to distinguish wild from the cultivated American ginseng. This work is critical for the ecological and biological assessments of wild American ginseng so as to facilitate long‐term sustainability of the wild population.
Habitat visualization, acquisition features and necessity of the gammaproteobacterial symbiont of pistachio stink Bug, Acrosternum heegeri (Hem.: Pentatomidae)

Abstract Plant-sucking stinkbugs are especially associated with mutualistic gut bacterial symbionts. Here, we explored the symbiotic relationship of a pistachio stinkbug, Acrosternum heegeri Fieber by histological, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), real-time PCR and molecular phylogenetic techniques. Furthermore, the effects of the symbiont on the resting/wandering behaviors of the newborn nymphs, pre-adult survival rates, and stage compositions were investigated. Transmission electron microscopy and real-time PCR analyses showed that a rod-shaped gammaproteobacterium was persistently located within the posterior midgut crypts. Molecular phylogenetic and FISH techniques strongly suggested that this symbiont should be placed in the genus Pantoea of the Enterobacteriales. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the presence of the bacterial cells on the egg surface which the surface sterilization of the eggs resulted in the successful removal of the symbiont from the eggs. Symbiotic and aposymbiotic A. heegeri showed no significant differences in the wandering behaviors of the first nymphal stages, while the symbiont-free insects suffered retarded growth and lower survivability. Together, the results highlight the habitat and acquisition features of Pantoea symbiont and its contribution in A. heegeri biology that might help us for better pest management in the future.
Effects of Intranasal Pseudorabies Virus AH02LA Infection on Microbial Community and Immune Status in the Ileum and Colon of Piglets

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) variants broke out in china since 2011, causing high fever, respiratory distress, systemic neurological symptoms, and diarrhea in piglets. This study investigated the effect of intranasal PRV variant (AH02LA) infection on ileal and colonic bacterial communities and immune status in piglets. Ten piglets (free of PRV) were assigned to PRV variant and control groups (uninfected). At day 5 after inoculation, all piglets were euthanized. No PRV was detected in the ileal and colonic mucosa. In the PRV group, we observed up-regulation of specific cytokines gene expression, down-regulation of intestinal barrier-related gene expression, and reduction of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) concentration in the ileum and colon. PRV infection increased the diversity of ileal bacterial community composition. PRV infection reduced the abundance of some beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus species in the ileum and colon; butyrate-producing bacteria species in the colon) and increased the abundance of potentially pathogenic Fusobacterium nucleatum in the ileum and Sphingomonas paucimobilis in the colon. Moreover, PRV infection decreased concentrations of the beneficial lactate in the ileum and butyrate in the colon. However, this study does not allow to evaluate whether the observed changes are directly due to the PRV infection or rather to indirect effects (fever, clinical signs and changes in diet), and will be our next research content. In summary, our findings provide evidence that intranasal PRV infection directly or indirectly brings gut health risks and implications, although no PRV was detected in the ileum and colon.
FINE-ROOT DYNAMICS, ANATOMY AND CARBON-NITROGEN CONCENTRATIONS IN RELATION TO FOREST MANAGEMENT AND SOIL WATER CONTENT. CASE STUDIES IN BEECH (Fagus sylvatica L.) AND TURKEY-OAK (Quercus cerris L.) FORESTS Tutor: Prof. Donato CHIATANTE Dottorando:

6 Chapther I – Introduction 7 1.1 Global carbon cycle and carbon balance 7 1.2 The carbon cycle and the human activities 8 1.3 Carbon storage on land. The residual terrestrial sink 10 1.4 Terrestrial ecosystems: vegetation and soils 11 1.5 The role of roots in carbon balance 12 1.6 The research project 13 1.6. 1 Forest management 13 1.6. 2 Soil water content 15 1.7 References 16 Chapter II Study sites and stands characterization 19 2.1 Fagus sylvatica L. stands 19 2.1.1 Study site 19 2.1.2 Stand measurements (soil temperature, canopy cover, tree stocking density, above-ground biomass and leaf biomass) 21 2.1.3 Above-ground stand characteristics 22 2.2 Quercus cerris L. stand 26 2.2.1 Study site 26 2.2.2 Stand measurements (soil moisture, canopy cover and aboveground biomass, tree stocking density and leaf biomass 28 2.2.3 Above-ground stand characteristics 29 2.3 References 31 Chapter III Effect of forest management on fine roots in Fagus sylvatica L. stands 32 3.1 Materials and methods 32 3.1.1 Fine-root measurements 32 3.1.2 Statistical analysis 35
The Relationships between Risky Sexual Practices and Spiritual Intelligence of Adolescents in Indonesia

ABSTRACT Adolescents’ health problems are closely related to risky practices, one of which is risky sexual practice. Among others, a factor that is important to prevent risky sexual practices is spiritual intelligence of the adolescents. The study aims to analyze the association between spiritual intelligence and risky sexual practice in adolescents in a junior high school at Curug city of Depok, Indonesia. A quantitative observational analysis with cross-sectional approach was applied. The instrument used to measure the variables of spiritual intelligence was the spiritual intelligence self-report inventory. The variable sexual risky practices was measured with the instrument Sexual Risk Survey (SRS). The study involved 302 adolescents who came from three junior high schools (SMP) selected by stratified random sampling. Pearson test analysis showed a significant negative correlation between spiritual intelligence with sexual risky practices (p = .019; r = −.135). A multivariate analysis using multiple linear regression showed that sex is the most influential variable on sexual risky practices. Based on the findings of the research, there is a need to continuously monitor the stage of adolescent growth especially by improving the spiritual intelligence status, so that spiritually intelligent adolescents can suppress the incidence of sexual risky practices.
Repeated Acceleration Activity in Competitive Youth Soccer

Soccer match-play is increasingly characterised by short, high-speed bursts reliant on the ability to accelerate. Performance is impaired after peak acceleration activity and during the second half and may compromise a player’s effectiveness. To date, information about repeated acceleration sequences is lacking but would provide further insight into high-speed activity during competition. This study examined repeated acceleration ability (RAA) using GPS (5 Hz) and accelerometer (100 Hz), during 14 competitive youth soccer matches from the 2014–2015 season. Results showed that RAA profiles were relatively homogeneous, and there were no significant differences between playing positions. RAA activity was also relatively stable between playing halves and only the activity of forwards declined significantly. In summary, this study suggests that RAA is a generic requirement of match-play at this level but presents a specific focus for conditioning regimens.
Physical and chemical properties of soybean seeds determine their susceptibility to mechanical damage.

The research was carried out to determine the influence of the chemical composition and moisture content in seeds from selected soybean cultivars on their mechanical properties. The individual seeds were investigated at five moisture contents in the conditions of quasi-static loads with the use of a Zwick universal testing machine. Mechanical properties of the soybean seeds from the analyzed cultivars depended on their chemical composition and moisture content. The seeds of the cv. ‘Herta PZO’ ruptured when the significantly smallest amount of the rupture force (105.6 N) was applied and were most prone to deformation (29.2%). The seeds of the cv. KS-40 were significantly less prone to deformation (16.7%) and ruptured with the smallest amount of energy (71.5 mJ) applied. The cv. ‘Petrina’ required the significantly highest amount of force (140.6 N) necessary for seed rupture, while the significantly highest modulus of elasticity (1721 MPa) was observed in the cv. SP-16. The cv. ‘Aligator’ required application of the significantly highest amount of energy (142.7 mJ). An increase in the moisture content in seeds caused a significant decrease in the rupture force and modulus and an increase in deformation and energy. Soybean seeds with higher protein and ash content ruptured when higher force was applied and were characterised by a higher modulus of elasticity, smaller extent of deformation and lower energy, being therefore more resistant to damage. Soybean seeds containing more fat and fibre were more prone to damage. Together with the increase in the moisture content (7–19%), we observed a decrease in the impact of the chemical components analyzed on the rupture force and the modulus of elasticity. At the same time we observed an increase in the influence of the tested components on deformation and energy.
High-Temperature Effects on Growth and Propagule Formation in Hydrilla Biotypes

In consecutive greenhouse studies, growth and propagule formation were examined first in monoecious hydrilla [Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle], then in dioecious hydrilla, at three temperature levels (25, 30, and 35 C) and contrasted over three periods of growth (8, 12 and 16 wks). Each biotype was grown under natural photoperiods, decreasing from 14 hrs (in Oct, Nov, and Dec). For both biotypes, total biomass and root-to-shoot ratios were significantly reduced at 35 C; greater biomass was produced both at 25 and 30C. Increases in growth period generally enhanced total biomass and shoot production; however, shoot length was unresponsive to growth periods beyond 8 wks. The 35C treatment strongly impeded tuber formation and eliminat4ed the production of axillary turions; the number and biomass of these propagules peaked at lower temperatures under short photoperiods after 12 to 16 wks. Shoot elongation was stimulated with increases in temperature and was especially pronounced in the dioecious biotype. Notably, in the monoecious biotype, the number of shoots as a potential source of fragments, and tuber production (although reduced) occurred at relatively high levels under unfavorably hihg-temperature (35C) conditions. These results suggest that monoecious hydrilla may be better adapted to high temperatures than previously shown, and that the distribution of both biotypes in the U.S. could overlap further in southern states.