Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Internet Addiction and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Among Schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND Use of the internet and videogames by children and adolescents has risen dramatically over the last decade. Increasing evidence of internet and videogame addiction among children is causing concern due to its harmful physical, emotional and social consequences. There is also emerging evidence for an association between computer and videogame addiction and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). OBJECTIVES To investigate the relationship between ADHD and internet addiction. METHODS We compared 50 male schoolchildren, mean age 13 years, diagnosed with ADHD to 50 male schoolchildren without ADHD on measures of internet addiction, internet use and sleep patterns. RESULTS Children with ADHD had higher scores on the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), used the internet for longer hours, and went to sleep later than those without ADHD. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate an association of ADHD, sleep disorders and internet/videogame addiction.
Power Controlled Reverse Channel Training Achieves an Infinite Diversity Order in a TDD-SIMO System with Perfect CSIR

In this letter, we analyze the Diversity Multiplexing-gain Tradeoff (DMT) performance of a training-based reciprocal Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO) system. Assuming Channel State Information (CSI) is available at the Receiver (CSIR), we propose a channel-dependent power-controlled Reverse Channel Training (RCT) scheme that enables the transmitter to directly estimate the power control parameter to be used for the forward-link data transmission. We show that, with an RCT power of P̅<sup>γ</sup>, γ >; 0 and a forward data transmission power of P̅, our proposed scheme achieves an infinite diversity order for 0 ≤ gm <; L<sub>c</sub> - L<sub>B,τ</sub>/L<sub>c</sub> min(γ,1) and r >; 2, where g<sub>m</sub> is the multiplexing gain, L<sub>c</sub> is the channel coherence time, L<sub>B,τ</sub> is the RCT duration and r is the number of receive antennas. We also derive an upper bound on the outage probability and show that it goes to zero asymptotically as exp (-P̅<sup>E</sup>), where E =<sup>Δ</sup> (γ-g<sub>m</sub>L<sub>c</sub>/L<sub>c</sub> -L<sub>B,τ</sub>), at high P̅. Thus, the proposed scheme achieves a significantly better DMT performance compared to the finite diversity order achieved by channel-agnostic, fixed-power RCT schemes.
A Physiology-Based Model Describing Heterogeneity in Glucose Metabolism

Background: Current diabetes education methods are costly, time-consuming, and do not actively engage the patient. Here, we describe the development and verification of the physiological model for healthy subjects that forms the basis of the Eindhoven Diabetes Education Simulator (E-DES). E-DES shall provide diabetes patients with an individualized virtual practice environment incorporating the main factors that influence glycemic control: food, exercise, and medication. Method: The physiological model consists of 4 compartments for which the inflow and outflow of glucose and insulin are calculated using 6 nonlinear coupled differential equations and 14 parameters. These parameters are estimated on 12 sets of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) data (226 healthy subjects) obtained from literature. The resulting parameter set is verified on 8 separate literature OGTT data sets (229 subjects). The model is considered verified if 95% of the glucose data points lie within an acceptance range of ±20% of the corresponding model value. Results: All glucose data points of the verification data sets lie within the predefined acceptance range. Physiological processes represented in the model include insulin resistance and β-cell function. Adjusting the corresponding parameters allows to describe heterogeneity in the data and shows the capabilities of this model for individualization. Conclusion: We have verified the physiological model of the E-DES for healthy subjects. Heterogeneity of the data has successfully been modeled by adjusting the 4 parameters describing insulin resistance and β-cell function. Our model will form the basis of a simulator providing individualized education on glucose control.
Annual energy consumption prediction using particle filters

This paper presents a framework for predicting the monthly-annual electric energy consumption (EC) using practical filters, sequential Monte Carlo methods. The particle filtering technique is utilized to describe and track the EC "signal" structure with respect to time. The state of the evolution of energy consumption is described as a nonlinear process of past states. Disturbance or noise associated with the energy consumption state of evolution is dealt with as a non-Gaussian process. The EC in Kuwait from 1992 to 2000 is used as training set to predict the monthly EC of the year 2001. The results show that the average percentage error between the actual and estimated EC for the year 2001 is 4.46%.
Effect of Tape Longitudinal Dynamics on Timing Recovery and Channel Performance

The recording performance is compared for two barium ferrite magnetic recording tapes which differ by a factor of two in friction, but are otherwise very similar. The error rate of the tapes is similar at a tape speed of 4 m/s, but as the read or write speed decreases to 1.16 m/s, the error rate of the smoother, higher friction tape increases by a factor of 100. This effect arises from velocity variations in the tape, which prevent accurate timing recovery and uncertainty in the phase of the recorded waveform. The velocity variation is measured by recording a periodic waveform. Its power spectrum demonstrates the effect of the compressional sound wave resonating between rollers on either side of the recording head.
Local equilibrium controllability of a spherical robot actuated by a pendulum

In this paper, we present local equilibrium configuration controllability analysis of a spherical robot. The robot is actuated by the principle of displacing the center of gravity of the system using an internal mechanism. The system is defined on a trivial principal fiber bundle, characterized by base body motion and the shape dynamics, and the equations of motion are in the form of the nonholonomic Euler-Poincaré equation with advected dynamics. Using Lie brackets and symmetric products of the potential and control vector fields, local configuration accessibility and local (fiber) equilibrium controllability are presented.
Preparation of egg yolk antibodies against BoNT/B and their passive protection in mouse models

Botulism in human is a devastating intoxication caused mainly by type A, B, and E botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs). The most effective treatment of botulism is injection of BoNT antiserum in the first 24 h. In this study, a recombinant C-terminal heavy chain of BoNT/B (BHc) was successfully expressed in E. coli. The soluble BHc was used as an antigen to immunize laying hens for yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) production. The purified IgY against BHc subunit, preincubated with the BoNT/B, was predominantly involved in the neutralization of BoNT/B toxicity. Furthermore, both intraperitoneal and intragastric administration of the IgY could protect mice from death caused by injection of toxin at a lethal dose. Our results therefore suggest that anti-BHc IgY directed to the Hc domain is effectively involved in the neutralization of BoNT/B toxin and may be considered as preventive and therapeutic intervention in the case of botulism.
Time to Achieve First Blood Pressure Control After Diagnosis Among Hypertensive Patients at Primary Health Care Clinics

This study aimed to examine the duration to achieve first blood pressure (BP) control after the diagnosis of hypertension. This was a retrospective cohort study on 195 hypertensive patients’ (age ≥18 years) records from a primary health care clinic. The median time to achieve first BP control was 7.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.99-9.35). Cox proportional hazards regression results showed female patients were 1.5 times more likely to achieve BP control when compared with male patients (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.50, 95% CI 1.09-2.09, P = .013). Those with monotherapy were 2 times more likely (HR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.39-3.13, P < 0.001) and those on 2 drugs were 3.5 times more likely (HR = 3.49, 95% CI = 1.65-7.40, P = .001) to achieve BP control than those with nonpharmacological treatment. The median time to achieve BP control was longer than the recommended time. Doctors may need to consider starting the pharmacological treatment early and be more aggressive in hypertensive management for male patients.
An 8 bit current steering DAC for offset compensation purposes in sensor arrays

Abstract. An 8 bit segmented current steering DAC is presented for the compensation of mismatch of sensors with current output arranged in a large arrays. The DAC is implemented in a 1.8 V supply voltage 180 nm standard CMOS technology. Post layout simulations reveal that the design target concerning a sampling frequency of 2.6 MHz is exceeded, worst-case settling time equals 60.6 ns. The output current range is 0–10 μA, which translates into an LSB of 40 nA. Good linearity is achieved, INL
Adaptive and Learning Control for SI Engine Model With Uncertainties

Air-fuel ratio control is a challenging control problem for port-fuel-injected and throttle-body-fuel-injected spark ignition (SI) engines, since the dynamics of air manifold and fuel injection of the SI engines are highly nonlinear and often with unmodeled uncertainties and disturbance. This paper presents nonlinear control approaches for multi-input multi-output engine models, by developing adaptive control and learning control design methods. Theoretical proofs are established that ensure that proposed controllers are able to give asymptotical tracking performance. As a comparison, the method applying global linearizing controller can give accurate tracking for the engine model without uncertainty and disturbance, but it fails to keep tracking performance when uncertainty is incorporated into the system. Adaptive control and learning control approaches are capable of dealing with both constant uncertainty and time-varying periodic uncertainty. Simulation results illustrate the efficacy of the proposed controllers.
Improved Purification Methods for Calf‐Derived Cryptosporidium parvum Oocysts Using Discontinuous Sucrose and Cesium Chloride Gradients

Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts can be generated in low to moderate numbers in rodent animal models, but large-scale production is generally accomplished in neonatal livestock, especially calves. We have introduced a number of improvements in the production and purification process for calf-derived oocysts to minimize labor, consumption of materials, and generation of hazardous waste. C. parvum oocysts (IOWA isolate) were generated in neonatal (36-72 hr old) Holstein calves following inoculation of lo8 oocysts. Stool collection began on day 4 and was continued through day 12 post infection. Calf caging utilized a customized chimpanzee cage modified by installing Plexiglas barriers around the inner walls to direct scouring fecal matter to drop into a custom stainless steel pan positioned beneath the cage floor. The original cage floor was overlaid with rubber-coated expanded metal. This material provided a compact, but open surface that supported the calfs hooves while allowing urine and fecal matter to drop through into the collection pan. Calf cage surfaces were cleaned with a detergent/bleach-based solution (F364, Rochester Midland) and the pooled feces-contaminated waste was heat inactivated (see below).
The XRCC 1 Arg 399 Gln Genetic Polymorphism Contributes to Hepatocellular Carcinoma Susceptibility : An Updated Meta-analysis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent malignancy worldwide with a total of 28720 estimated new cases and ranks the fifth common cause resulting in male cancer death in USA (Siegel et al., 2012). Genome integrity and DNA damages have shed light on the mechanisms that concealed in HCC development (Price et al., 2013). Hepatitis B virus is the most common environmental cause of HCC susceptibility (>80%) which usually leads to DNA damages (McKillop et al., 2006). In addition, aflatoxin B1, alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking (Akinyinka et al., 2001; Lopez et al., 2004) also contribute pivotally to HCC occurrence due to unrepaired DNA damages (Stem et al., 2002; Lahtz et al., 2011). Different DNA damages could be revised by multiple regulatory pathways involved in the DNA repair system,
Robust Video Super-resolution Using Low-rank Matrix Completion

In this paper, we propose a robust super-resolution method using low rank matrix completion for videos with local motions and local deformations. It is based on the multi-frame low rank matrix completion super-resolution (MCSR) framework proposed by Chen. Nonlocal multi-scale similar patches are extracted in registration instead of optical flow for complex motions. By rearranging patches extracted from low resolution frames, super-resolution problem is converted to matrix completion. Low resolution patches is represented as observed entries in a low-rank matrix. We adopt alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) to minimize nuclear norm and introduce a weighted fusion method to acquire final high resolution patches. Experimental results showed that the proposed method outperformed MCSR on videos with complex motions.
Anti-windup control for near space vehicles subject to input saturation

An anti-windup control scheme is proposed to achieve satisfactory control performance for the Near Space Vehicle (NSV) with input saturation and unknown external disturbances. The anti-windup control method combined with disturbance observer is adopted to eliminate the effect of input saturation and unknown external disturbances. A disturbance observer is presented to estimate the unknown disturbance generated by a linear exogenous system. To ensure the the stability of the close-loop system subject to input saturation, the anticipatory anti-windup compensator is developed and the robust controller is designed using the output of the disturbance observer. Finally, simulation results are presented for the NSV to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.
The effects of alcohol on rat placenta

In this study, daily food and water consumption and body weights, histopathology of placenta, tenascin (TN), type IV collagen and EGF and its receptor immunolocalization in the placenta of albino rats treated with two doses of alcohol (1 and 5 g kg−1 day−1) were determined. Alcohol was administered in three different periods i.e. the whole 4 weeks before the pregnancy, during the pregnancy, and during the 4 weeks before the pregnancy plus pregnancy itself. The samples of placenta obtained from control and treated rats on days 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 21 of gestation were evaluated morphologically and fixed for histology and immunohistochemistry. Some differences in food and water consumption between the groups were determined. The placental weight, especially in the groups receiving 1 and 5 g kg−1 day−1 alcohol during the pregnancy, showed increases. The changes in placental histology such as increases in the number and the size of trophoblastic giant cells, cytoplasmic dissolution and nuclear polymorphism, degenerations in spongiotrophoblasts, hyperemia at the basal zone and labyrinth, hyperplasia at the labyrinth and irregular vascularization were seen particularly in the groups receiving alcohol during the pregnancy, and during the 4 weeks before the pregnancy plus pregnancy itself. Increases in the immunolocalization of TN and type IV collagen and decreases in the immunolocalization of EGF and EGFR in the placentas of alcohol‐receiving rats were found. In conclusion, ethanol treatment during pregnancy in rats affected placentation and the immunolocalization of TN, type IV collagen, EGF and EGFR in the placentas. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of elbow joint angle on the magnitude of muscle damage to the elbow flexors.

PURPOSE It has been shown that eccentric actions at a long muscle length result in a larger decrease in force and more muscle tenderness compared with those at a short muscle length. To further investigate the effect of elbow joint angle on the development of muscle damage, this study compared two maximal eccentric exercise regimens in which the starting position of the action was different, but the range of movement was the same. METHODS One arm of 10 male students performed 24 maximal eccentric actions of the elbow flexors at the elbow joint angle from 0.87 to 2.27 rad (50-130 degrees: S condition) and the other arm at the elbow joint angle from 1.74 to 3.14 rad (100-180 degrees: L condition). Maximal isometric force, range of motion, muscle soreness, plasma creatine kinase activity, upper arm circumference, and B-mode ultrasound pictures of the elbow flexors (US) were measured before and for 5 d postexercise in both conditions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the transverse scans of the upper arm was taken at 4 d after exercise. RESULTS All measures changed significantly (P < 0.01) after exercise for both conditions; however, significantly (P < 0.01) larger changes in the measures were found in the L condition compared with the S condition. MRI and US displayed that only the brachialis was damaged for the S condition but the biceps brachii was also damaged for the L condition. CONCLUSION The greater development of muscle damage in the L condition compared with the S condition is likely to be associated with the elbow flexors muscles affected by the exercise.
Efficient Estimation in the Tails of Gaussian Copulas

We consider the question of efficient estimation in the tails of Gaussian copulas. Our special focus is estimating expectations over multi-dimensional constrained sets that have a small implied measure under the Gaussian copula. We propose three estimators, all of which rely on a simple idea: identify certain \emph{dominating} point(s) of the feasible set, and appropriately shift and scale an exponential distribution for subsequent use within an importance sampling measure. As we show, the efficiency of such estimators depends crucially on the local structure of the feasible set around the dominating points. The first of our proposed estimators $\estOpt$ is the "full-information" estimator that actively exploits such local structure to achieve bounded relative error in Gaussian settings. The second and third estimators $\estExp$, $\estLap$ are "partial-information" estimators, for use when complete information about the constraint set is not available, they do not exhibit bounded relative error but are shown to achieve polynomial efficiency. We provide sharp asymptotics for all three estimators. For the NORTA setting where no ready information about the dominating points or the feasible set structure is assumed, we construct a multinomial mixture of the partial-information estimator $\estLap$ resulting in a fourth estimator $\estNt$ with polynomial efficiency, and implementable through the ecoNORTA algorithm. Numerical results on various example problems are remarkable, and consistent with theory.
Isolation, purification and characterisation of selenium-containing polysaccharides and proteins in selenium-enriched Radix puerariae.

BACKGROUND Selenium (Se) is an essential dietary mineral and Radix puerariae (RP) (the dried root of Pueraria lobata Willd.) is a botanical supplement widely used as a nutraceutical. Food enriched with Se provides a feasible and economic approach for production of organic Se compounds. However, little is known about Se-enriched RP and the structure of Se-containing polysaccharides and proteins derived from Se-enriched RP. RESULTS The organic form of Se accounted for 82.42% of total content. Purification by DEAE-52 and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography yielded three single fractions--RP-SeP-11, RP-SeP-22 and RP-SeP-33--with Se contents of 0.9562 × 10⁻³, 0.6113 × 10⁻³ and 0.3827 × 10⁻³ g kg⁻¹, respectively. RP-SeP-11 (3.5 kDa) was made of glucose, RP-SeP-22 (19.6 kDa) was composed of xylose and glucose, and RP-SeP-33 (97.9 kDa) was made up galactose, mannose and glucose. Two Se-containing proteins were obtained with Se content of 3.175 × 10⁻³ and 4.328 × 10⁻³ g kg⁻¹, respectively. One appeared as three subunits with molecular masses of 43.0, 29.0 and 17.8 kDa while the other appeared as two subunits with molecular masses of 43.0 and 26.3 kDa. CONCLUSION The results provide a basis for promoting the utilisation of RP resources enriched with Se as a promising tool for the food industry and are significant for its contribution to Se biochemistry in plants.
Benefit on health-related quality of life of adherence to gluten-free diet in adult patients with celiac disease.

INTRODUCTION Celiac disease (CD) affects health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients suffering it. The exclusion of gluten from the diet (GFD) improves HRQOL, but involves difficulties in following the diet that could adversely affect HRQOL. OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of adherence to the diet on HRQOL of adult CD patients. METHODS A prospective, cross-sectional, multicenter study of CD patients treated with a GFD for longer than 1 year. Adherence to the GFD was measured using the Morisky scale, and health status using the specific CD-QOL questionnaire and the generic EuroQol-5D questionnaire. RESULTS 366 patients from 7 hospitals were included: 71.5% of patients reported a perfect treatment adherence, 23.5% unintentional poor adherence and 5% intentional poor adherence. Good adherence to a GFD was related to a higher mean score onthe CD-QOL (75 vs. 68, respectively, p < 0.05) and EuroQol-5D (0.9 vs. 0.8, respectively, p < 0.05). Ease of adherence to a GFD was also related to a better HRQOL (total CD-QOL score of 82 vs. 67 in patients who consider the GFD difficult to follow, p < 0.05). Good symptom control was also related to a better HRQOL (total CD-QOL score of 78 vs. 67 in asymptomatic vs. symptomatic patients, p < 0.01). The worse scored dimension of CD-QOL was related to "inadequate treatment". CONCLUSIONS In CD, good adherence to a GFD and adequate symptom control result in improved HRQOL. Many patients consider that the lack of therapeutic alternatives to diet worsens their quality of life.
Uma Proposta de Formação Continuada sobre Matemática Financeira para Professores de Matemática do Ensino Médio

Este trabalho apresenta os resultados de um curso de formacao continuada sobre Matematica Financeira para professores de Matematica do ensino medio realizado no municipio de Mangaratiba, localizado no estado do Rio de Janeiro - Brasil, e parte da hipotese de que um curso dessa natureza contribui para o desenvolvimento e a qualificacao dos professores. O objetivo da formacao continuada foi o de mostrar aos professores a relacao dos conceitos basicos da Matematica Financeira com os conteudos tradicionais da Matematica da escola basica. No curso ministrado, procurou-se ressaltar a importância da visualizacao e de softwares educativos no processo ensino-aprendizagem. Fundamentamos nossa pesquisa na perspectiva da Educacao Matematica Critica, de acordo com pesquisadores como Ole Skovsmose e Ubiratan D’Ambrosio, por acreditarmos que os conteudos, as estrategias e a analise critica provenientes da Matematica Financeira muito mais que descricao de algoritmos, formulas e calculos descontextualizados, favorecem uma Educacao Matematica que estimula a investigacao e o espirito critico do aluno/cidadao