Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
One-hour plasma glucose as a long-term predictor of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in a Chinese older male population without diabetes: A 20-year retrospective and prospective study

Introduction Elevated one-hour plasma glucose (1 h-PG) during oral glucose tolerance test predicts the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications. However, to date, there have been no studies investigating the predictive values of 1 h-PG for the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and all-cause mortality in the elderly population in China. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of 1 h-PG and two-hour plasma glucose (2 h-PG) to predict the risk of CVD and all-cause mortality in the Chinese elderly population. Materials and methods This retrospective and prospective cohort study was conducted using data obtained from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital. All the non-diabetic elderly participants, who had plasma glucose measured at 0, 1, and 2 h during an OGTT (75 g glucose), were followed for 20 years. The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, and stroke. Multivariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazard regression models were performed to examine the association between risk factors and outcomes and to estimate the risk of CVD and all-cause mortality based on 1 h-PG levels. Results A total of 862 non-diabetic male individuals were included. The median age was 74.0 (25th–75th percentile: 68.0–79.0) years. There were 480 CVD events and 191 deaths during 15,527 person-years of follow-up. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1 h-PG as a continuous variable was 1.097 (95% CI 1.027–1.172; P = 0.006) for CVD events and 1.196 (95% CI 1.115–1.281; P < 0.001) for higher risk of mortality. When compared with the lowest 1 h-PG tertile, the other tertiles were associated with CVD events (HR 1.464, 95% CI 1.031–2.080; P = 0.033 and HR 1.538, 95% CI 1.092–2.166; P = 0.014, for tertile 2 and tertile 3 compared with tertile 1, respectively), and the highest 1 h-PG tertile had a significantly higher risk of mortality (HR 2.384, 95% CI 1.631–3.485; P < 0.001) after full adjustment. Compared with 1 h-PG, 2 h-PG had similar abilities to predict all-cause mortality. However, 2 h-PG was less closely associated with CVD when examined in the fully adjusted model, neither as a continuous variable nor as a categorical variable. Conversely, 1 h-PG remained an independent predictor of CVD and all-cause mortality after adjusting for various traditional risk factors. Conclusion Patients with higher 1 h-PG had a significantly increased risk of CVD and all-cause mortality regardless of prediabetes status or development of diabetes at follow-up. The 1 h-PG level might be a better predictor of cardiovascular risk than the 2 h-PG level for the Chinese elderly population.
Characterization of a Desert Aquitard— Hydrologic and Hydrochemical Considerations

The northern Negev desert has become a prime area for siting potentially contaminating facilities, including chemical industries and the Israeli national site for isolation and treatment of hazardous waste. The area is underlain by chalk formations having low matrix permeability. However, abundant fractures create preferential pathways for contaminant migration from the land surface to ground water in the chalk aquitard and, possibly, to adjacent aquifers. Geologic investigations preceding the construction of these industries assumed that the combination of the arid climate and low matrix permeability of the aquitard was sufficient to prevent any contaminant movement into its ground water. Solute transport through fractures and dissolution channels was never considered. However, contamination has been recently observed in the aquitard. Observations regarding the seasonal fluctuation of ground-water levels, oxygen-18 and deuterium composition, and the measurable tritium (0.3 to 15.9 TU) provide the basis for the following conclusions: (1) Ground-water recharge by winter precipitation and runoff water occurs rapidly despite the regions's aridity and the low permeability of the overlying chalk matrix, (2) recharge occurs along fractures in all regions and is not restricted to hydrologically upgradient areas, and (3) recently recharged water is being mixed with the base flow of older water. Older ground water may flow along smaller, less developed fracture systems or through the porous matrix, whereas recent water probably moves along wider fractures or karst channels formed underneath ephemeral streams.
Cruising through the millennium - 2003-13 changes in American Daily life

The aim of this research is to examine recent US national time-diary data for evidence of an accelerating pace of everyday life in society, based on diary self-reports of how Americans spend their time since 1965. Earlier such diary studies had documented declines in women’s housework, increases in parental child care and overall gains in free time. These trends stood in marked contrast to the increased time pressure cited by societal critics of the style of life in the US and other Western countries. Since 2003, the US government’s American Time-Use Survey (ATUS), now conducted continuously by the US Bureau of the Census, has asked more than 145,000 Americans how they spent their time. Analysis of these 2003-2013 ATUS diaries reveals rather minimal change over this first millennial decade, with about an hour’s decline in both paid work and domestic work/shopping, as in previous decades mainly among women. Unlike previous studies, that decline included about a 30% decline in help to neighbors and members of other households, a key indicator of the country’s social safety net. These declines in productive and other more pressured activity were offset by small gains in less pressured activities, like sleep and TV viewing. There was also a notable decline in reported travel activities, particularly by automobile. The 2010 ATUS also began asking how these respondents felt during their diary activities, with results generally consistent with less-pressured lifestyles and earlier measures.
Australasian Conference on Information Systems 2018 , Sydney , Australia 1 Factors discouraging participation of girls in ICT education

Despite expanding ICT job opportunities, there has been a decrease in the proportion of girls entering into ICT study, and pursuing ICT careers. This paper explores factors that discourage participation of high school girls in ICT using a modified version of the conceptual framework based on the “STEMcell” model. The modified framework was used to create an online questionnaire which gathered data from girls and boys between the ages of 15 and 17 years studying at high school. Each section of the framework used selected questions based on perceptions and attitudes to gain an insight into whether girls would be more likely to participate in ICT. The findings indicated that boys, more than girls sought advice from their family members on their future career choices. The results also showed stereotypes are still alive in girls more than boys and that girls are unlikely to follow a career in ICT. Moreover, girls more than boys disagree about ICT becoming compulsory in high school. Current number of enrolments of girls in ICT at high school lags behind that of boys and, until changes are made, girls going into the ICT industry will be in the minority.
Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in free-ranging lion and leopard populations in Southern Africa

Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondiil/ig were detected in 92% of 53 sera from lions from Botswana, in 100% of 21 sera from Zimbabwe, in 100% of 12 sera from Kruger National Park and 100% of 30 sera from Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, South Africa. The single leopard serum from Botswana was positive, while 86% of 7 leopard sera from Kruger National Park were positive. Clinical implications of T. gondiil/ig infection in free-ranging non-domestic felids are unknown.
Molecular genetics of monogenic movement disorders

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 23 (SCA23) is a late-onset neurodegenerative disorder characterized by slowly progressive gait and limb ataxia, for which there is no therapy available. It is caused by pathogenic variants in PDYN , which encodes prodynorphin (PDYN). PDYN is processed into the opioid peptides α-neoendorphin, and dynorphins (Dyn) A and B; inhibitory neurotransmitters that function in pain signaling, stress-induced responses, and addiction. Variants causing SCA23 mostly affect Dyn A, leading to loss of secondary structure and increased peptide stability. PDYN R212W mice express human PDYN containing the SCA23 variant p.R212W. These mice show progressive motor deficits from 3 months of age, climbing fibre (CF) deficits from 3 months of age, and Purkinje cell (PC) loss from 12 months of age. A mouse model for SCA1 showed similar CF deficits, and a recent study found additional developmental abnormalities, namely increased GABAergic interneuron connectivity and non-cell autonomous disruption of PC function. As SCA23 mice show a similar pathology to SCA1 mice in adulthood, we hypothesized that SCA23 may also follow SCA1 pathology during development. Examining PDYN R212W cerebella during development, we uncovered developmental deficits from 2 weeks of age, namely a reduced number of GABAergic synapses on PC soma, possibly leading to the observed delay in early phase CF elimination between 2 and 3 weeks of age. Furthermore, CFs did not reach terminal height leaving proximal PC dendrites open to be occupied by parallel fibres (PFs). The observed increase in vGlut1 protein -a marker for PF-PC synapses-indicates that PFs indeed take over CF territory and have increased connectivity with PCs. Additionally, we detected altered expression of several critical Ca 2+ channel subunits, potentially contributing to altered Ca 2+ transients in PDYN R212W cerebella. These findings indicate that developmental abnormalities contribute to the SCA23 pathology and uncover a developmental role for PDYN in the cerebellum
2012 Update of the Combination of CDF and D0 Results for the Mass of the W Boson

We summarize and combine the results on the direct measurements of the mass of the W boson in data collected by the Tevatron experiments CDF and D0 at Fermilab. Earlier results from CDF Run-0 (1988--1989), D0 and CDF Run-I (1992--1995) and D0 results from 1/fb (2002--2006) of Run-II data are now combined with two new, high statistics Run-II measurements: a CDF measurement in both electron and muon channels using 2.2/fb of integrated luminosity collected between 2002 and 2007, and a D0 measurement in the electron channel using 4.3/fb collected between 2006 and 2009. As in previous combinations, the results are corrected for inconsistencies in parton distribution functions and assumptions about electroweak parameters used in the different analyses. The resulting Tevatron average for the mass of the W boson is Mw = 80387 +- 16 MeV and a new world average including data from LEP II is Mw = 80385+- 15 MeV.
Low frequency variability in globally integrated tropical cyclone power dissipation

Surface wind and temperature records from the European Centre for Medium‐ Range Weather Forecasts 40 Year Reanalysis (ERA‐40) Project are used to estimate low‐frequency variations in globally integrated tropical cyclone (TC) intensity from 1958 to 2001. For the first time, the annually integrated power dissipation (PD) is explicitly calculated on a global scale, and results show an upward trend in PD during much of the ERA‐40 project period, although we argue this is at least partially due to limitations in cyclone representation in ERA‐40. Comparing our estimated trend in PD with Emanuel's (2005) approximation to PD reveals good agreement after 1978, coinciding with the onset of a major satellite observing‐system epoch in ERA‐40. The low pass (>60 months) filtered PD time series correlates with mean annual tropical temperature, thus this result is consistent with the hypothesis that tropical temperatures may directly regulate the integrated intensity of TCs.
Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Strategies In Italy . An Economic Assessment

In this paper, the economic value of the impacts of climate change is assessed for different Italian economic sectors and regions. Sectoral and regional impacts are then aggregated to provide a macroeconomic estimate of variations in GDP induced by climate change in the next decades. Autonomous adaptation induced by changes in relative prices and in stocks of natural and economic resources is fully taken into account. The model also considers international trade effects. Results show that in Italy aggregate GDP losses induced by climate change are likely to be small. However, some economic sectors (e.g. tourism) and the alpine regions will suffer significant economic damages.
The Effect of a Kinesthetic Curriculum on the Mathematics Achievement of Elementary English-Language Learners

There is a rapidly changing demographic of school-aged children in the United States. From 2003-2013 the percentages of English-language learners (ELL) in public schools grew from 8.7% to 9.2% (Ross et al., 2012). By 2025, one out of every four public school students will be an ELL (National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition, 2010). A growing field of research focuses on identifying best practices that support ELL’s in the classroom. Through best practices, teachers are able to meet the complex learning needs of ELL’s. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a kinesthetic curriculum on the mathematics achievement of fourth-grade ELL’s. After evaluating the effectiveness of the kinesthetic intervention, teachers had the opportunity to use best practices for ELL’s. A significant increase in mathematics achievement levels occurred following kinesthetic interventions. This could further help ELL’s to succeed in the classroom and on critical standardized achievement tests. Stapp, A. Volume 5, Issue 2, Fall 2015 47 © 2015 Delta State University
Outer-space sensitivities in geoelectrical tomography

Geoelectrical imaging is the preferred method for resolving a wide range of problems associated with the subsurface (Barker, 1997; Rubin and Hubbard, 2005). Modern multielectrode arrays (Griffiths and Turnbull, 1985; Stummer et al., 2002) allow geoelectrical data to be acquired efficiently in diverse environments, and user-friendly inversion software (e.g., Loke, 1999) can be used to convert the recorded data to meaningful subsurface models.
Sentential Effects on Discourse Processing

While there is an established literature on the effect of discourse and context on sentence processing, little is known about the effect of sentence on the text. The current study reviews recent developments in sentential variables’ effect on discourse processing. Four sentential variables were discussed: anaphoric referentiality, implicit causality, syntactic cues, and linguistic connectives and markers The study aim at presenting an integrative framework of how these variables set up and update the reader’s mental model of the text. Sentential variables build this mental model through connecting consequent sentences, avoid repeating the same referent, specifying the focus of the text, and keeping track of the temporal order of events and logical relations among them. In discussing each of these variables, basic aspects of the variable was presented and new developments in its linguistic analysis and related psycholinguistic evidence were reviewed. Controversial issues like time course of the effect of these variables, and problems of the relative weights assigned to them were mentioned also in order to locate points of possible interest for future research.
EXTREME SEA LEVELS ON THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA

Much higher than average sea levels played a very important contributory role in the flooding damage. This report describes and examines the oceanographic and meteorological conditions prevailing during winter 1982-1983, and attempts to put them into perspective using historical information at San Diego. Emphasis is placed on the processes and forces that contribute to extreme sea levels in the hope that better understanding of these and more complete information on historical extremes will help the engineer in design and in assessment of risk.
Assessment of Urban Expansion in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis of Ghana Using Remote-Sensing and GIS Approach

The conversion of other types of land to uses concerned chiefly with population growth and increase in economic activities is the main cause of land use land cover changes in human history. Urban expansion has therefore been identified as one of the most evident examples of human modification of the Earth and has therefore become a very important element in world environmental studies. For effective monitoring of environmental changes and proper management of natural resources to be carried out, studies on urban growth patterns needs to be carried out. This makes urban expansion studies extremely important. The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis of Ghana has been experiencing fast urban growth over the past two decades. Forest and agriculture lands are being converted to uses concerned chiefly with population growth and increased in economic activities. This research sought to assess urban expansion in the metropolis using an integrated remote sensing and GIS approach. Several remote sensing techniques were used to carry out land-use-land-cover change detection using two multitemporal Landsat images of the years 1991 and 2008. This assisted in determining the changes that have taken place over the 17 year period. Urban growth pattern was also analysed using GIS techniques. The results showed that there has been a significant urban growth in the study area. The annual rate of change of land cover within the 17 year period was determined to be 1.77%. The results further showed that urban expansion was uneven in different part of the metropolis and that there is a negative correlation between the density of urban expansion and distance to a major road. The results further showed that the annual rate of change of urban/built-up land is 4.88%. This urban development has therefore altered the land cover of the metropolis significantly.
Golden-winged warblers (Vermivora chrysoptera) of the Southern Appalachians : behavior, ecology, and conservation of a declining neotropical migrant songbird

Research on the Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera), a Neotropical migrantsongbird that has experienced steady population declines over the past forty years, has generallyfocused on determining habitat requirements for the species, as well as best managementpractices for creating and maintaining habitat on the birds’ breeding grounds. Few studies haveinvestigated behavioral aspects of Golden-winged Warbler (GWWA) biology and few have beenconducted in western North Carolina (WNC). For this research project, I sought to map GWWAterritories in WNC and measure vegetation characteristics within those territories, as well asconduct a study of male aggression using conspecific playback. The primary goal of the researchwas to determine whether correlations exist between male aggression and territory/habitatcharacteristics. I augmented in-the-field vegetation measurements with analysis of LiDAR dataon shrub and canopy layers. Sizes of mapped territories were comparable to those found by otherresearchers. Within-territory vegetation characteristics, such as percent canopy cover, tree basalarea, and shrub height, were consistent with results found by other researchers. Overall, results ofLiDAR data analysis were somewhat consistent with measurements made in the field.Aggression trial results demonstrated that males exhibited varying responses to playback. This intraspecific variation may be due to personality traits that remain consistent over a bird’slifetime and/or to the timing of aggression trials with respect to breeding stage. No correlationwas found between density of males in a given area and aggression of males defending territoriesin that area. However, few sites used in this study had more than one male GWWA present; thus,investigations involving male density are not necessarily meaningful. Significant correlationswere found between male aggression and tree dbh, shrub density, and shrub height, with tree dbhpositively predicting male aggressive response and both shrub density and shrub heightnegatively predicting aggression. Due to the fact that the sample size of this study was rathersmall, further research is needed to clarify relationships between male aggression, populationdensity, and habitat characteristics. If correlations between aggression and both body size andreproductive output found in other avian species also apply to GWWA, studies of male GWWAaggression potentially have implications for conservation of the species.
Quality assessment of prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis

In 1958 chorionic villus samples, investigated by culture method, we found 137 (7%) abnormalities. The abnormal results were classified in certain abnormal (generalised abnormal at high probability) and uncertain abnormal (potentially confined to the placenta) results. Certain abnormal were 73 cases (3.7%). Uncertain abnormal were 64 cases (3.3%), in which confirmation studies were done in 47 cases. In 12 cases of these 47, the abnormality was confirmed and in 35 cases (1.8%) the abnormality was confined to the placenta. Among the latter cases, poor pregnancy outcome [(16% intrauterine death (IUD), 6% intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR)] was increased. Total maternal cell contamination was not seen. The positive predictive value of all confirmed abnormal cases was 66%. The positive predictive value was 100% for indications ‘ultrasound abnormalities’ and ‘carrier’ and between 50 and 60% for all other indications. Predictive value among uncertain abnormal cases was low (26%). However, the positive predictive value depends of the type of abnormality. Therefore we conclude that the culture method for chorionic villi is a good test for indications ‘ultrasound abnormalities’ and ‘carrier’ and reliable for all other indications. Whether or not follow-up investigations should be offered to the parents depends of the type of abnormality. We conclude that the culture method is reliable for prenatal diagnosis and can be used as the sole investigated method.
Carbon and oxygen isotopic survey of diagenetic carbonate deposits in the Agardhfjellet Formation (Upper Jurassic), Spitsbergen: preliminary results

Diagenetic carbonate deposits (concretions, cementation bodies and cement− stone bands) commonly occur in organic carbon−rich sequence of the Agardhfjellet Forma− tion (Upper Jurassic) in Spitsbergen. They are dominated by dolomite/ankerite and siderite. These deposits originated as a result of displacive cementation of host sediment in a range of post−depositional environments, from shallow subsurface to deep−burial ones. Prelimi− nary results of the carbon and oxygen isotopic survey of these deposits in southern Spitsbergen (Lagkollane, Ingebrigtsenbukta, Reinodden, and Lidfjellet sections) show the 13 C values ranging between -13.0‰ and -1.8‰ VPDB, and the 18 O values between -16.0‰ and -7.7‰ VPDB. These results suggest that the major stage of formation of the carbonate deposits occurred during burial diagenesis under increased temperature, most probably in late diagenetic to early catagenic environments. Carbonate carbon for mineral precipitation was derived from dissolution of skeletal carbonate and from thermal decom− position of organic matter.