Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Accuracy of the Estimated Prevalence of Childhood Obesity from Height and Weight Values Reported by Parents: Results of the Toyama Birth Cohort Study

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the validity of the estimated prevalence of childhood obesity from height and weight reported by parents. The subjects were 170 first-grade children (83 males and 87 females) and 206 fourth-grade children (99 males and 107 females). A questionnaire including questions on height and weight was distributed to children and completed by parents. Anthropometric measurements were conducted in the standard way. Age- and sex-specific cut-off points linked to adult overweight were employed to determine childhood obesity. The correlation and difference between reported and measured values were calculated separately for grade and gender. Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.90 to 0.96 for height, 0.95 to 0.99 for weight, and 0.86 to 0.97 for body mass index (BMI). Sensitivity and specificity, the indices predicting the presence or absence of actual obesity from reported height and weight, ranged from 83.3 to 93.3 % and 96.3 to 98.9 %, respectively. The estimated prevalence of obesity (as calculated by reported data) minus actual prevalence (as calculated by measured data) ranged from −1.2 to 1.0 %. These results indicate that height and weight reported by parents provides a reliable assessment of childhood obesity.
A Model for the Coevolution of Immunity and Immune Evasion in Vector‐Borne Diseases with Implications for the Epidemiology of Malaria

We describe a model of host‐parasite coevolution, where the interaction depends on the investments by the host in its immune response and by the parasite in its ability to suppress (or evade) its host’s immune response. We base our model on the interaction between malaria parasites and their mosquito hosts and thus describe the epidemiological dynamics with the Macdonald‐Ross equation of malaria epidemiology. The qualitative predictions of the model are most sensitive to the cost of the immune response and to the intensity of transmission. If transmission is weak or the cost of immunity is low, the system evolves to a coevolutionarily stable equilibrium at intermediate levels of investment (and, generally, at a low frequency of resistance). At a higher cost of immunity and as transmission intensifies, the system is not evolutionarily stable but rather cycles around intermediate levels of investment. At more intense transmission, neither host nor parasite invests any resources in dominating its partner so that no resistance is observed in the population. These results may help to explain the lack of encapsulated malaria parasites generally observed in natural populations of mosquito vectors, despite strong selection pressure for resistance in areas of very intense transmission.
Numerical investigation on the enhanced carrier collection efficiency of Ga-face GaN/InGaN p-i-n solar cells with polarization compensation interlayers.

The impact of the polarization compensation InGaN interlayer between the heterolayers of Ga-face GaN/InGaN p-i-n solar cells is investigated numerically. Because of the enhancement of carrier collection efficiency, the conversion efficiency is improved markedly, which can be ascribed to both the reduction of the polarization-induced electric field in the InGaN absorption layer and the mitigation of potential barriers at heterojunctions. This beneficial effect is more remarkable in situations with higher polarization, such as devices with a lower degree of relaxation or devices with a higher indium composition in the InGaN absorption layer.
Initio Studies of Anatase TiO 2 ( 101 ) Surface-supported Au 8 Clusters

Supported transition metals on TiO2 surfaces have shown exceptional catalytic properties in many important process such as CO oxidation, selective propane oxidation, hydrogenation, water adsorption and other catalytic and photocatalytic oxidation reaction at low-temperature. Among the three polymorphs of TiO2, the anatase crystal is the more photoactive. The anatase (101) surface attracts more attention since it has lower surface energy relative to (001) and (100) surfaces and it is observed to adsorb small molecules on its surface. Using density-functional theory (DFT) with on-site Coulomb interactions corrections, we have computed the structural and electronic properties of selected Au8 clusters interacting with clean and reduced anatase TiO2(101) surfaces. The computed adsorption energies are suggesting that the considered Au8 clusters are only physisorbed onto pristine TiO2(101) surface. Oxygen vacancies are found to enhance the absorption of Au8 on the TiO2(101) surface. Accurate simulations required spin polarized DFT since the ground state of Au8 interacting with defective TiO2(101) shows magnetic solutions. The results show that Au8 clusters are chemically bonded to the surface around the locality of the oxygen vacancy. The surface oxygen vacancy is found to be energetically more favourable than sub-surface oxygen vacancy configuration. These vacancy sites may act as nucleation sites for small Au clusters or Au atoms. Finally, the computed electronic structure of all the Au8/TiO2(101) configurations considered in this work are analysed in the light of available experimental data.
Gingerols of Zingiber officinale Enhance Glucose Uptake by Increasing Cell Surface GLUT4 in Cultured L6 Myotubes

Abstract In this study we investigate the active constituents of the rhizome of Zingiber officinale, Roscoe (ginger) and determine their activity on glucose uptake in cultured L6 myotubes and the molecular mechanism underlying this action. Freeze-dried ginger powder was extracted with ethyl acetate (1 kg/3 L) to give the total ginger extract, which was then separated into seven fractions, consisting of nonpolar to moderately polar compounds, using a short-column vacuum chromatographic method. The most active fraction (F7) was further purified for identification of its active components. The effect of the extract, fractions, and purified compounds on glucose uptake was evaluated using radioactive labelled 2-[1,2-3H]-deoxy-D-glucose in L6 myotubes. The pungent phenolic gingerol constituents were identified as the major active compounds in the ginger extract enhancing glucose uptake. (S)-[6]-Gingerol was the most abundant component among the gingerols, however, (S)-[8]-gingerol was the most potent on glucose uptake. The activity of (S)-[8]-gingerol was found to be associated primarily with an increase in surface distribution of GLUT4 protein on the L6 myotube plasma membrane, as detected by expression of hemagglutinin epitope-tagged GLUT4 in L6 muscle cells. The enhancement of glucose uptake in L6 rat skeletal muscle cells by the gingerol pungent principles of the ginger extract supports the potential of ginger and its pungent components for the prevention and management of hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes.
Does fear of coercion keep people away from mental health treatment? Evidence from a survey of persons with schizophrenia and mental health professionals.

Mental health consumer advocates have long argued that involuntary treatment frightens persons with mental disorder and thus deters them from voluntarily seeking help. We surveyed 85 mental health professionals and 104 individuals with schizophrenia spectrum conditions to assess their experience with and perceptions of involuntary treatment and other treatment mandates. Of the clinicians, 78% reported that overall they thought legal pressures made their patients with schizophrenia more likely to stay in treatment. Regarding involuntary outpatient commitment, 81% of clinicians disagreed with the premise that mandated community treatment deters persons with schizophrenia from seeking voluntary treatment in the future. Of the consumer sample, 63% reported a lifetime history of involuntary hospitalization, while 36% reported fear of coerced treatment as a barrier to seeking help for a mental health problem-termed here "mandated treatment-related barriers to care. " In bivariate analyses, reluctance to seek outpatient treatment associated with fear of coerced treatment (mandated treatment-related barriers to care) was significantly more likely in subjects with a lifetime history of involuntary hospitalization, criminal court mandates to seek treatment, and representative payeeship. However, experience with involuntary outpatient commitment was not associated with barriers to seeking treatment. Recent reminders or warnings about potential consequences of treatment nonadherence, recent hospitalization, and high levels of perceived coercion generally were also associated with mandated treatment-related barriers to care. In multivariable analyses, only involuntary hospitalization and recent warnings about treatment nonadherence were found to be significantly associated with these barriers. These results suggest that mandated treatment may serve as a barrier to treatment, but that ongoing informal pressures to adhere to treatment may also be important barriers to treatment.
Hurwitz-Schur stability test of interval bivariate polynomials

The necessary and sufficient condition of Hurwitz-Schur stability of interval bivariate polynomials is established. Since interval bivariate polynomials are of linear affine property, Hurwitz-Schur stability of an interval bivariate polynomial can be guaranteed by the stability of its finite edge polynomials. An algorithm about the stability test of edge polynomials is provided.
Endothelin and a Ca2+ ionophore raise cyclic GMP levels in a neuronal cell line via formation of nitric oxide

1 The vasoconstrictor peptide endothelin‐1 caused a fast, transient rise in guanosine 3′:5′‐cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP) levels in a neuronal cell line (mouse neuroblastoma x rat glioma hybrid cells 108CC15). The mechanism of activation of guanylate cyclase by endothelin‐1 was investigated. The endothelin‐1‐induced rise depended on the release of internal Ca2+. 2 The stimulation of cyclic GMP synthesis induced by endothelin‐1 was suppressed after preincubating the cells in medium containing haemoglobin (IC50 3 μm). Similarly, pretreatment of the cells with the l‐arginine analogues, l‐canavanine (IC50 60 μm) or NG‐monomethyl‐l‐arginine (IC50 2.5 μm), inhibited the cyclic GMP response to endothelin‐1. Therefore, endothelin‐1 activates guanylate cyclase most probably via formation of nitric oxide, which is released from l‐arginine. 3 The Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin induced a transient rise in cyclic GMP levels, which was also suppressed by preincubation in the presence of either haemoglobin or the l‐arginine analogues l‐canavanine or NG‐monomethyl‐l‐arginine. Therefore, we conclude that ionomycin can activate guanylate cyclase by a mechanism involving nitric oxide formation, similar to that induced by endothelin‐1. 4 The alkaloid veratridine, which activates Na+ channels and also causes influx of Ca2+ induced a transient rise of cyclic GMP levels in the neuronal cell line. This stimulation was blocked by pretreating the cells with l‐canavanine, NG‐monomethyl‐l‐arginine or haemoglobin. 5 Loading the cells with the Ca2+ chelator BAPTA suppresed the cyclic GMP response to application of endothelin‐1, ionomycin, or veratridine. Thus, in the neuronal cell line a rise in cytosolic Ca2+ activity seems to be sufficient to stimulate the nitric oxide forming enzyme which synthesizes the activator of soluble guanylate cyclase.
WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX4 Is Involved in Meristem Maintenance and Is Negatively Regulated by the CLE Gene FCP1 in Rice[W]

This work reports that FCP1, encoding a CLE protein, negatively regulates the maintenance of the vegetative shoot apical meristem in rice. In addition, it reveals that WOX4 promotes the undifferentiated state of the meristem and is negatively regulated by FCP1. The shoot apical meristem is the ultimate source of the cells that constitute the entire aboveground portion of the plant body. In Arabidopsis thaliana, meristem maintenance is regulated by the negative feedback loop of WUSCHEL-CLAVATA (WUS-CLV). Although CLV-like genes, such as FLORAL ORGAN NUMBER1 (FON1) and FON2, have been shown to be involved in maintenance of the reproductive meristems in rice (Oryza sativa), current understanding of meristem maintenance remains insufficient. In this article, we demonstrate that the FON2-LIKE CLE PROTEIN1 (FCP1) and FCP2 genes encoding proteins with similar CLE domains are involved in negative regulation of meristem maintenance in the vegetative phase. In addition, we found that WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX4 (WOX4) promotes the undifferentiated state of the meristem in rice and that WOX4 function is associated with cytokinin action. Consistent with similarities in the shoot apical meristem phenotypes caused by overexpression of FCP1 and downregulation of WOX4, expression of WOX4 was negatively regulated by FCP1 (FCP2). Thus, FCP1/2 and WOX4 are likely to be involved in maintenance of the vegetative meristem in rice.
Thermal Measurement and Modeling of Multi-Die Packages

Thermal measurement and modeling of multi-die packages with vertical (stacked) and lateral arrangement became a hot topic recently in different fields like RAM chip packaging or LEDs and LED assemblies. In our present study, we present results for a more complex structure: an opto-coupler device with four chips in a combined lateral and vertical arrangement. The paper gives an overview of measurement and modeling techniques and results for stacked and multichip module (MCM) structures. It describes actual measurement results along with our structure function-based methodology which helps validating the detailed model of the package being studied. For stack-die packages, we suggest an extension of the DELPHI model topology. Also, we show how one can derive junction-to-pin thermal resistances with a technique using structure functions.
Histological and prognostic importance of CD44+/CD24+/EpCAM+ expression in clinical pancreatic cancer

CD44+/CD24+/EpCAM+ cells have been reported to be cancer stem cells in pancreatic cancer; however, the histological and clinical importance of these cells has not yet been investigated. Here we clarified the characteristics of CD44+/CD24+/EpCAM+ cells in clinical specimens of pancreatic cancer using immunohistochemical assay. We used surgical specimens of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma from 101 patients. In view of tumor heterogeneity, we randomly selected 10 high‐power fields per case, and triple‐positive CD44+/CD24+/EpCAM+ expression was identified using our scoring system. The distribution, histological characteristics, and prognostic importance of CD44+/CD24+/EpCAM+ cells were then analyzed. As a result, the distribution of CD44+/CD24+/EpCAM+ cells varied widely among the 101 cases examined, and CD44+/CD24+/EpCAM+ expression was correlated with poor glandular differentiation and high proliferation. Survival analysis showed that CD44+/CD24+/EpCAM+ expression was not correlated with patient outcome; however, CD44+/CD24+ expression appeared to be correlated with poor prognosis. In conclusion, CD44+/CD24+/EpCAM+ expression overlapped with poorly differentiated cells and possessed high proliferative potential in clinical pancreatic cancer. In particular, the presence of double‐positive CD44+/CD24+ expression seemed to have clinical relevance, associating with poor prognosis.
Taf 7 l cooperates with Trf 2 to regulate spermiogenesis

Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Li Ka Shing Center for Biomedical and Health Sciences, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Center of Excellence, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720; University of California Berkeley–University of California San Francisco Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720; Department of Animal Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, People’s Republic of China; and School of Computer Science and Engineering, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
Combining adaptive-computation-time and learning-to-learn approaches for optimizing loss functions of base-learners by

Learning to learn approaches can be used to train a recurrent neural network (RNN) that learns an optimization algorithm. Adaptive computation time for RNNs allows a network to adjust its depth at each time step to the input received so far. In this work we developed two adaptive meta-learners that combine the learning to learn and adaptive computation time approaches in order to optimize loss functions of base-learners. Integrating both approaches is motivated by the idea that a learned, iterative optimization algorithm benefits from being able to adjust the number of optimization steps to the input, by learning to weight the time step losses. Our newly proposed models could be trained with less computational effort on convex and non-convex optimization tasks compared to the baseline optimizer introduced by Andrychowicz et al. (2016). Moreover the adaptive optimizers developed their own training regime that trades off computational effort against accuracy based on a prior injected preference.
Living at home or in an institution: what makes the difference for seniors?

OBJECTIVES This article examines some of the health and socio-demographic factors associated with living in long-term health care facilities rather than in private households, for elderly people with various levels of disability. DATA SOURCE The data are from the 1996/97 National Population Health Survey conducted by Statistics Canada. Data from a sample of 1,711 people aged 65 or older living in long-term health care facilities and 13,363 in private households were weighted to represent about 185,100 and 3.4 million seniors, respectively. ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES Descriptive data were produced using bivariate frequencies. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine associations between living in long-term health care facilities and selected health and socio-demographic characteristics for seniors with self-reported severe, moderate or no disability. MAIN RESULTS While health status was strongly associated with residence in a long-term health care facility, the absence of a spouse, low income, low education, and advanced age were also significant.
A 1-year, randomized, placebo-controlled study of donepezil in patients with mild to moderate AD.

To the Editor: In their recently published, 1-year prospective, double blind, placebo-controlled study, Winblad et al.1 examined the long-term clinical efficacy and safety of donepezil in mild to moderate AD. I congratulate the investigators for their effort. Unfortunately, it remains puzzling to me why the investigators restricted the entry criteria and consequently selected a population that was not representative of general clinical practice. By excluding patients with frequently coexisting medical conditions such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and endocrine diseases, the demonstrable effect of the treatment is not obscured by comorbid conditions and is therefore probably the greatest possible effect that can be observed. One clinical trial revealed that including patients with significant comorbidity reduced the beneficial effect of donepezil by almost 50% of that observed in trials with more rigorous entry criteria.2 In addition, the strict lack of any significant effect at the end point (last observation carried forward; LOCF) on the primary efficacy parameter raises questions. Furthermore, it is questionable whether the magnitude of change taken at its highest value (week 52 [6.2 units or 9.6%]) is detectable by the physician and caregivers. …
Observer-based stabilisation of linear systems with parameter uncertainties by using enhanced LMI conditions

This paper deals with the problem of observer-based stabilisation for linear systems with structured norm-bounded parameter uncertainties. A new design methodology is established thanks to a judicious use of some mathematical artefacts such as the well-known Young inequality and various matrix decompositions. The proposed method allows one to compute simultaneously the observer and controller gains by solving a single bilinear matrix inequality (BMI), which becomes a linear matrix inequality (LMI) by freezing some scalars. Furthermore, we show that some existing and elegant results reported in the literature can be regarded as particular cases of the stability conditions presented here. Numerical examples and evaluations of the conservatism are provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed design methodology.
A vasa‐like gene in the giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii

A molecular marker for germ cells of the giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, was studied. A vasa‐like gene, Mrvlg, from the ovary was isolated and characterized by a reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) method. A full‐length sequence was obtained by the rapid amplification of cDNA end (RACE) method. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence revealed that Mrvlg comprises 2,686 bps with an open reading frame of 2,130 bps encoding 710 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence contains four arginine–glycine–glycine motifs and eight conserved motifs belonging to the DEAD‐box protein family. The MrVLG sequence shows high similarity to Vasa homologue of zebrafish (73%). In the adult tissues, the Mrvlg transcripts were specifically detected in the germ cells. In situ hybridization analysis showed that Mrvlg RNA was detected in the cytoplasm of oogonia, previtellogenic, and vitellogenic oocytes and was also detected in the nucleoplasm of mature oocytes. In the testis, the Mrvlg transcript was detected in the cytoplasm of spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes but was detected in the nuclei of secondary spermatocytes and sperm. Sequence similarity and specific localization in the germ cells suggest that Mrvlg is the prawn vasa homologue of the Drosophila gene and can be used as a molecular marker for prawn germ cells. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 74: 835–842, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Active Tuberculosis Risk With Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors After Treating Latent Tuberculosis

BackgroundActive tuberculosis (TB) risk increases during anti–tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy; therefore, latent TB infection (LTBI) screening is recommended in potential TNF inhibitor users. It is unclear whether anti-TNF therapy increases the risk of active TB infection even after standard LTBI treatment. ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to compare the risk of active TB development in LTBI-positive versus LBTI-negative TNF inhibitor users following the current national LTBI treatment guidelines for LTBI. MethodsWe retrospectively studied 949 TNF inhibitor users with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases from 2005 to 2012 at the Yonsei University Health System. We compared the incidence of active TB among LTBI-positive TNF inhibitor users treated according to national guidelines (n = 256) and LTBI-negative TNF inhibitor users (n = 521), using Poisson regression. ResultsThe active TB incidence was 1107 per 100,000 patient-years in LTBI-positive TNF inhibitor users who received standard LTBI treatment and 490 per 100,000 patient-years in LTBI-negative TNF inhibitor users. Analysis showed that despite this numerical trend active TB risk was not statistically significantly elevated in LTBI-positive versus LTBI-negative TNF inhibitor users (incidence risk ratio, 2.15; P = 0.24; 95% confidence interval, 0.6–7.7). ConclusionsThis study demonstrated no statistically significantly increased risk of active TB in LTBI-positive TNF inhibitor users who received standard LTBI treatment compared with LTBI-negative TNF inhibitor users.