Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dietary pattern and weight change in a 5-year follow-up among Chinese adults: results from the Jiangsu Nutrition Study

The aim of the present study was to examine the association between dietary patterns and weight change prospectively. We followed up 1231 adults aged 20 years and older (mean age 49·3 years) from 2002 to 2007. Food intake was assessed at baseline by an FFQ. Factor analysis was used to identify dietary patterns. Nutrient intake was measured by food weighing plus consecutive individual 3 d food records. Body weight and height were measured. The mean 5-year weight gain among all participants was 0·8 (sd 4·7) kg. The mean weight changes across quartiles of the ‘traditional’ pattern (rice, fresh vegetables, pork and wheat flour) were 2·0, 0·6, 0·6 and 0·0 kg. The corresponding values were 0·4, 0·5, 0·7 and 1·6 kg across quartiles of the ‘vegetable-rich’ pattern. No significant association between the ‘macho’ dietary pattern (meat and alcohol), the ‘sweet tooth’ pattern (drinks and cake) and weight gain was found. In multivariate linear regression, using the first quartile as the reference, participants in the highest quartile of the ‘traditional’ pattern had a β of − 2·18 (95 % CI − 2·91, − 1·45) for weight gain. However, the β from weight change of the highest quartile of the ‘vegetable-rich’ pattern was 1·00 (95 % CI 0·25, 1·74). In conclusion, the ‘traditional’ dietary pattern was negatively and the ‘vegetable-rich’ pattern was positively associated with weight gain in Chinese adults.
Hospitalisation trends in India from serial cross-sectional nationwide surveys: 1995 to 2014

Objectives We report hospitalisation trends for different age groups across the states of India and for various disease groups, compare the hospitalisation trends among the older (aged 60 years or more) and the younger (aged under 60 years) population and quantify the factors that contribute to the change in hospitalisation rates of the older population over two decades. Design Serial cross-sectional study. Setting Nationally representative sample, India. Data sources Three consecutive National Sample Surveys (NSS) on healthcare utilisation in 1995–1996, 2004 and 2014. Participants Six hundred and thirty-three thousand four hundred and five individuals in NSS 1995–1996, 385 055 in NSS 2004 and 335 499 in NSS 2014. Methods Descriptive statistics, multivariable analyses and a regression decomposition technique were used to attain the study objectives. Result The annual hospitalisation rate per 1000 increased from 16.6 to 37.0 in India from 1995–1996 to 2014. The hospitalisation rate was about half in the less developed than the more developed states in 2014 (26.1 vs 48.6 per 1000). Poor people used more public than private hospitals; this differential was higher in the more developed (40.7% vs 22.9%) than the less developed (54.3% vs 40.1%) states in 2014. When compared with the younger population, the older population had a 3.6 times higher hospitalisation rate (109.9 vs 30.7) and a greater proportion of hospitalisation for non-communicable diseases (80.5% vs 56.7%) in 2014. Among the older population, hospitalisation rates were comparatively lower for females, poor and rural residents. Propensity change contributed to 86.5% of the increase in hospitalisation among the older population and compositional change contributed 9.3%. Conclusion The older population in India has a much higher hospitalisation rate and has continuing greater socioeconomic differentials in hospitalisation rates. Specific policy focus on the requirements of the older population for hospital care in India is needed in light of the anticipated increase in their proportion in the population.
Exercise involvement and trait-anxiety are determinants of physical self-concept: exercisers exhibit superior profiles compared with non-exercisers

Physical self-concept represents an important determinant of healthy psychological functioning. It is influenced by several factors, including physical activity, body competence, and chronic anxiety. In this study 391 women and men were subjected to aerobic (Cooper test) and anaerobic (sit-ups) performance tests and completed questionnaires assessing their physical self-concept, trait anxiety, and exercise status (i.e. exercising regularly or not). A hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that gender, exercise status, fitness, and trait-anxiety accounted for 41% of the variance in the physical self-concept (p < .001). Further, exercisers differed in both aerobic and anaerobic performance measures, and physical self-concept (p < .001) from the nonexercisers. Mediation analysis indicated that the performance indices had negligible impact on the relationship between exercise status and physical self-concept. Our results imply that mere involvement in regular exercise has positive effect on physical self-concept that is virtually unaffected by one’s physical performance.
Preprocessing Significantly Improves the Peptide/Protein Identification Sensitivity of High-resolution Isobarically Labeled Tandem Mass Spectrometry Data*

Isobaric labeling techniques coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry have been widely employed in proteomic workflows requiring relative quantification. For each high-resolution tandem mass spectrum (MS/MS), isobaric labeling techniques can be used not only to quantify the peptide from different samples by reporter ions, but also to identify the peptide it is derived from. Because the ions related to isobaric labeling may act as noise in database searching, the MS/MS spectrum should be preprocessed before peptide or protein identification. In this article, we demonstrate that there are a lot of high-frequency, high-abundance isobaric related ions in the MS/MS spectrum, and removing isobaric related ions combined with deisotoping and deconvolution in MS/MS preprocessing procedures significantly improves the peptide/protein identification sensitivity. The user-friendly software package TurboRaw2MGF (v2.0) has been implemented for converting raw TIC data files to mascot generic format files and can be downloaded for free from https://github.com/shengqh/RCPA.Tools/releases as part of the software suite ProteomicsTools. The data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD000994.
DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A DUAL OPERAT- ING MODE MICROSTRIP PATCH ANTENNA FOR UN- MANNED AERIAL VEHICLE SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR

Microstrip patch antenna has been designed and developed for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle based Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR). This antenna operates in C-Band at the frequency of 5.3GHz with a bandwidth of 80MHz. The radiation patterns of the antenna were specified to provide a desired scanned area for UAVSAR. The UAVSAR antenna was designed in the form of combination of 3 subpanels to allow dual operating mode (single antenna or dual antenna) selection. Two feed points are provided to the feeding network of each subpanel to reduce undesired power loss. The developed antenna prototype meets the performance requirements of UAVSAR system. It shows promising results in the UAVSAR flight mission conducted in Mersing area, Malaysia for both operating modes.
Salinity Responses of Benthic Microbial Communities in a Solar Saltern (Eilat, Israel)

ABSTRACT The salinity responses of cyanobacteria, anoxygenic phototrophs, sulfate reducers, and methanogens from the laminated endoevaporitic community in the solar salterns of Eilat, Israel, were studied in situ with oxygen microelectrodes and in the laboratory in slurries. The optimum salinity for the sulfate reduction rate in sediment slurries was between 100 and 120‰, and sulfate reduction was strongly inhibited at an in situ salinity of 215‰. Nevertheless, sulfate reduction was an important respiratory process in the crust, and reoxidation of formed sulfide accounted for a major part of the oxygen budget. Methanogens were well adapted to the in situ salinity but contributed little to the anaerobic mineralization in the crust. In slurries with a salinity of 180‰ or less, methanogens were inhibited by increased activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria. Unicellular and filamentous cyanobacteria metabolized at near-optimum rates at the in situ salinity, whereas the optimum salinity for anoxygenic phototrophs was between 100 and 120‰.
Tunable Terahertz Difference Frequency generation with 1550nm fiber laser

Terahertz (THz) generation, using the Difference Frequency (DF) effect, is a promising way to develop a THz source. Dual-wavelengths laser, having stable phase and with a spacing of 3 nm centered around 1550 nm, are emitted from the same fiber ring laser. A tunable THz frequency component is demonstrated by tuning the FBG inside the laser cavity.
HYPEROXIA-INDUCED LUNG INJURY IS DOSE DEPENDENT IN WISTAR RATS

Oxygen is indispensable for aerobic respiration. However, the effects of hyperoxia on the lungs are poorly defined. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of different oxygen concentrations on rat lungs. Rats (n = 6 per group) were exposed to hyperoxia for 90 minutes at 3 different concentrations: 50% (H50%), 75% (H75%), or 100% (H100%). Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed and the right lungs were removed for histological analyses. The BAL samples were assayed for lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status using biochemical methods. Hyperoxia induced influxes of macrophages (1.8- to 2.3-fold) and neutrophils (7.0- to 10.2-fold) into the lungs compared to the control group (exposed to normoxia; n = 6). Histological analyses of the hyperoxic groups showed hemorrhagic areas and septal edema. A significant increase (2.2-fold) in lipid peroxidation was observed in the H100% group compared to the control group (P <.05). Glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities were reduced to approximately 20% and 40% of the control values, respectively, in all 3 hyperoxic groups, and catalase activity was reduced in both the H75% (−0.6-fold) and H100% (−0.7-fold) groups. These results indicate a harmful effect of hyperoxia on the rat lung, with evidence of oxidant/antioxidant imbalance and histological damage.
MRAS based speed estimation strategies for induction motor drives: A review

Speed sensorless induction motor drives are gaining popularity as they provide cost effective solutions with high performance delivery. Model Reference Adaptive System strategy has been extensively used for speed estimation in particular to the induction motors for developing speed sensorless drives. In this paper an exhaustive literature review on the various types of MRAS speed estimators available in the literature is presented to provide a state of art knowledge to the researchers working in this field.
First-Order Modeling Frameworks for Power-Efficient and Reliable Multiprocessor System

As the semiconductor industry keeps evolving at the pace predicted by Moore’s Law, computer system architects are facing increasing challenges from the three major design constraints: performance, power, and reliability. Thermal constraints from a reasonable cooling cost do not scale well as technology evolves. The dwindling scaling on threshold voltage leads to a slower pace of supply voltage scaling. These two effects lead to an increasing power density in current and future technology generations. Reliability has emerged as a primary design constraint due to the smaller feature size and generally lower supply voltage for electronic devices. Transient errors caused by high-energy particle strike and voltage noises are expected to increase significantly in frequency. Performance improvement becomes more challenging for future architectures with limitations set by the power and the resilience constraints. Integration of accelerators to create heterogeneous processors is becoming more common for both power and performance reasons. However, this adds one more dimension to the design space that is already complex due to technology variants, system organizations, application’s variability, and so on. Therefore, high-level models are essential for system designers to explore the design space and make decisions in a timely manner. Additionally, the three design constraints compete with each other. For example, resilience-aware techniques, such as DMR and TMR, are expensive in terms of power and performance, low-power designs usually come with a price of lower speed. Consequently, it requires system designers to make trade-offs by considering all the three design constraints at the same time. To address these challenges, we (1) propose an analytical modeling framework called Lumos that is capable of modeling power and performance for heterogeneous architectures with hardware
Fountain codes based partial cooperation in cooperative communications

To improve the throughput performance without feedback channel, a partial cooperation scheme based on fountain codes is proposed in this paper. Compared with the incremental relaying where the signal is retransmitted in fixed or selective relay and fed back to the source from the destination, the proposed scheme only requires the partner to offer partial encoded packets in collaborative phase. Simulation results show that throughput performance of the proposed scheme outperforms that of incremental relaying, which has ever been considered as the optimal scheme in three-terminal cooperative communications system with the partial cooperation parameter around 0.1 in our simulation. In particular, the proposed scheme allows for an easy extension to multiple partners.
High-Resolution Genomic Profiling of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Reveals New Recurrent Genomic Alterations

To identify genomic alterations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), we performed single-nucleotide polymorphism– array analysis using Affymetrix Version 6.0 on 353 samples untreated patients entered in the CLL8 treatment trial. Based on 60% of no detectedbyﬂuorescenceinsituhybridiza-tion analysis. loss-of-heterozygosity was detected in 6% of CLL patients and was frequently and 11q. Minimally deleted regions were reﬁned on 13q14 (deleted in 61% of patients) to the DLEU1 and DLEU2 genes, on 11q22.3 (27% of patients) to ATM , on 2p16.1-2p15 (gained in 7% of patients) to a 1.9-Mb fragment containing 9 genes, and on 8q24.21 (5% of patients) to a segment 486 kb proximal to the MYC locus. 13q deletions exhibited proximal and distal breakpoint cluster regions.
A spider-like robot that climbs vertically in ducts or pipes

Different implementations of remote controlled robots with wheels or stepping mechanisms are in use that can inspect and repair the interior of a pipe or duct. However, autonomous locomotion in complex shaped hollows with corners, steps and branches remains a major challenge. This paper describes a robot with articulated legs that opens up the possibility of servicing complex pipe systems. To solve the pipe climbing task autonomously, the robot has a hierarchical control architecture with reflexive and reactive behaviour. Experiments were carried out in a 2D simulation as well as with an eight-legged robot test-bed. The experiments show the physical feasibility of such a robot, and that it is possible to achieve a robust, safe and powerful operation using reflexive and reactive behaviour. <<ETX>>
MEF2D Deficiency in Neonatal Cardiomyocytes Triggers Cell Cycle Re-entry and Programmed Cell Death in Vitro*

Background: Myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) proteins are key regulators of cardiac muscle differentiation and hypertrophy, but additional roles in this cell type have not been defined. Results: MEF2D regulates the cell cycle and survival of post-mitotic cardiomyocytes. Conclusion: MEF2D is required for proper neonatal cardiomyocyte homeostasis. Significance: These findings provide opportunities to modulate MEF2D activity in cardiomyocyte proliferation and survival. The cardiomyocyte cell cycle is a poorly understood process. Mammalian cardiomyocytes permanently withdraw from the cell cycle shortly after birth but can re-enter the cell cycle and proliferate when subjected to injury within a brief temporal window in the neonatal period. Thus, investigating the mechanisms of cell cycle regulation in neonatal cardiomyocytes may provide critical insight into the molecular events that prevent adult myocytes from proliferating in response to injury or stress. MEF2D is a key transcriptional mediator of pathological remodeling in the adult heart downstream of various stress-promoting insults. However, the specific gene programs regulated by MEF2D in cardiomyocytes are unknown. By performing genome-wide transcriptome analysis using MEF2D-depleted neonatal cardiomyocytes, we found a significant impairment in the cell cycle, characterized by the up-regulation of numerous positive cell cycle regulators. Expression of Pten, the primary negative regulator of PI3K/Akt, was significantly reduced in MEF2D-deficient cardiomyocytes and found to be a direct target gene of MEF2D. Consistent with these findings mutant cardiomyocytes showed activation of the PI3K/Akt survival pathway. Paradoxically, prolonged deficiency of MEF2D in neonatal cardiomyocytes did not trigger proliferation but instead resulted in programmed cell death, which is likely mediated by the E2F transcription factor. These results demonstrate a critical role for MEF2D in cell cycle regulation of post-mitotic, neonatal cardiomyocytes in vitro.
Edge-reflection phase directed plasmonic resonances on graphene nano-structures.

The phase of graphene plasmon upon edge-reflection plays a crucial role on determining the spectral properties of graphene structures. In this article, by using the full-wave simulation, we demonstrate that the mid-infrared graphene plasmons are nearly totally reflected at the boundary together with a phase jump of approximately 0. 27π, regardless of the environments surrounding it. Appling this phase pickup, a Fabry-Perot model is formulated that can predict accurately the resonant wavelengths of graphene nano-ribbons. Furthermore, we find that the magnitude of the phase jump will either increase or reduce when two neighboring coplanar graphene sheets couple with each other. This could be used to explain the red-shift of resonant wavelength of periodic ribbon arrays with respect to an isolated ribbon. We provide a straightforward way to uncover the phase jump of graphene plasmons that would be helpful for designing and engineering graphene resonators and waveguides as well as their associated applications.
Peer Cluster Theory and Adolescent Drug Use: A Reanalysis

Peer cluster theory hypothesizes that peer drug association has a direct effect on adolescent drug use. In turn, peer drug associations are influenced by familial factors (sanctions and strength) and individual variables (religious identification, school adjustment). Oetting and Beauvais evaluated peer cluster theory in a cross-sectional survey of 415 high school students [1]. We hypothesized, evaluated, and found support for an alternative model in which poorer school adjustment was specified as a consequence of drug use, peer drug associations, lack of family sanctions against drug use, low religious identification, and absence of family strength. This reanalysis illustrates that interpretations of structural equation modeling results from cross-sectional data are especially problematic.
Normative values for corneal densitometry analysis by Scheimpflug optical assessment.

PURPOSE To describe the normative data for corneal Scheimpflug densitometry based on a cohort of normal participants. METHODS A total of 445 healthy participants were recruited for assessment (794 eyes). Left and right eyes were considered separately. All participants were assessed using the corneal densitometry analysis add-on to the standard software of the Oculus Pentacam. Densitometry measurements were obtained and expressed in standardized grayscale units (GSU). RESULTS All participants were Caucasian; 42% were male and 58% were female. The mean age was 48.0 ± 15.3 years (range, 20.2-84.2 years). Mean corneal densitometry over the 12-mm-diameter area was 19.74 ± 3.89 GSU. When divided by radial zone, densitometry values were lowest in the central zone (16.76 ± 1.87 GSU) and highest in the periphery (27.36 ± 7.47 GSU). There was no difference between central zone and the surrounding 2- to 6-mm annulus (P > 0.05), though the 6- to 10-mm and the 10- to 12-mm zones displayed higher densitometry values (P < 0.001). When divided by depth, the anterior layer displayed the highest densitometry reading of 25.81 ± 5.14 GSU, which was significantly higher than that of both the central (P < 0.001) and the posterior layers (P < 0.001). Changes in corneal densitometry were correlated with age, though not within the central 6-mm-diameter ring. No sex difference was seen within the cohort. CONCLUSIONS This add-on to the standard imaging software allows rapid and objective assessment of the corneal densitometry. We provide normative data that may be used as a reference facilitating research and complementing clinical examination.
The Heights of American Slaves: New Evidence on Slave Nutrition and Health

In recent years the nutritional adequacy of the slave diet has received increasing attention from historians. Scholars have analyzed a wide array of sources such as the manuscript censuses of agriculture and population, the ex-slave narratives, diaries, plantation account books, and agricultural and medical journals to shed new light on the quantities, varieties, and nutritional content of foods consumed by slaves (Fogel and Engerman, 1974; Owens, 1976; Sutch, 1975; Kiple and Kiple, 1977; Savitt, 1978; Crawford, 1980; Kahn, 1983). While these studies have yielded considerable information on the average quality of the slave diet in the American South or for slaves in particular localities, relatively little systematic evidence has been available to date on how the level of nutrition varied among different groups in the slave population, and over time.
The Effect of Cognitive Appraisal on Quality of Life of Providers of Home Care for Patients With Stroke

ABSTRACT:Background: Stroke is a major cause of long-term disability. Most stroke survivors return to their own home and need to be cared for by family members, most of whom are informal caregivers. Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify whether cognitive appraisal influences health-related quality of life. Methodology: A cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational design was used. Participants included 77 primary support persons, mean age = 59.47 years, who were younger than stroke survivors (mean age = 78.13 years). Data were collected between March–November 2012 and obtained through face-to-face interviews, using the Short-Form-36 Health Survey, Caregiver Burden Inventory, and five cognitive appraisal questions. In addition, the Barthel Index, Modified Rankin Scale, and Glasgow Coma Scale were used to assess patient disease severity. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to identify predictors of health-related quality of life. Results: The results indicated that 61% of participants rated their health as poor or fair. Patient severity, gender of primary support person, age, employment, burden, and cognitive appraisal impact accounted for 45.8% of the variance in primary support persons’ physical component summary of health-related quality of life, with age, burden, and appraisal impact being the strongest of six predictors. In addition, burden and appraisal impact were the strongest of six predictors, explaining 18.1% of the variance in primary support persons’ mental component summary of health-related quality of life. Conclusions: The results of the current study further highlight the importance of cognitive appraisal on the stroke survivor’s primary support person’s health-related quality of life.