Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alcohol Consumption: Vietnam Alcohol Use and Alcohol Consumption–Related Problems∗ in Rural Vietnam: An Epidemiological Survey Using AUDIT

This study aimed to assess alcohol use and alcohol consumption–related problems in different sociodemographic groups in a rural district in Vietnam. Interviews were completed between March 2004 and July 2004. The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) was applied to interview 3423 people, who were randomly selected in a rural district (1695 men and 1728 women). People who had an AUDIT score greater than 7 (in men) or greater than 5 (in women) were identified as having alcohol consumption– related problems. Prevalences and adjusted odds ratios of alcohol use and alcohol consumption–related problems were estimated for different subgroups of the population. Weekly and daily “binge drinking” among men were 5.7 and 3.6%, while binge drinking in women was virtually nonexistent. The prevalence of alcohol consumption–related problems was 25.5% among men and 0.7% among women. The differences between sociodemographic groups were not strong, but women who were separated, divorced, or widowed as well as those with higher education had significantly higher rates of alcohol consumption–related problems than married women and those with lower education. This study indicates an urgent need for alcohol intervention programs focused on men. However, further monitoring of alcohol use and problems among women is important to follow-up changes in consumption pattern. The study’s limitations are discussed.
Stochastic model predictive control of multi-hop control networks with packet dropouts

A multi-hop control network (MHCN) is a control system in which plants and controllers are connected through a multi-hop wireless network. An MHCN is one of the typical examples in cyber-physical systems. In this paper, we propose a new method of stochastic model predictive control for MHCNs with packet dropouts. In the proposed method, a given MHCN is modeled by a stochastic switched system. Then, we consider the finite-time optimal control problem of minimizing the cost function given by the quadratic form with respect to the expected value of the state and the control input. This problem is reduced to a mixed integer programming problem. By solving it, both communication paths and control inputs are optimized simultaneously.
Interrater reliability of six tests of trunk muscle function and endurance.

Some studies have shown a relationship between trunk muscle strength and low back pain. Measures of trunk muscle strength and endurance, which are feasible in the clinical setting, are needed. The purpose of this study was to determine interrater reliability of six tests of abdominal and trunk extensor muscle strength and endurance. The tests included abdominal and extensor dynamic endurance, hand-held dynamometry of isometric flexion and extension, and abdominal and extensor static endurance. Thirty-nine healthy workers were recruited as subjects. Each was tested by three raters on 3 days within 1 week. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and the standard error of measurement (SEM) were calculated: abdominal dynamic endurance ICC = . 89, SEM = 8 repetitions; extensor dynamic endurance ICC = . 78, SEM = 9 repetitions; abdominal isometric force ICC = . 25, SEM = 60 N; extensor isometric force ICC = . 24, SEM = 68 N; abdominal static endurance ICC = . 51, SEM = 35 seconds; extensor static endurance ICC = . 59, SEM = 20 seconds. The dynamic endurance tests had acceptable interrater reliability. For the others, reliability was poor and the SEMs were large.
Maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy and body composition and cardiovascular risk markers in Indian children: the Mysore Parthenon Study.

BACKGROUND Metabolic consequences of vitamin D deficiency have become a recent research focus. Maternal vitamin D status is thought to influence musculoskeletal health in children, but its relation with offspring metabolic risk is not known. OBJECTIVE We aimed to examine the association between maternal vitamin D status and anthropometric variables, body composition, and cardiovascular risk markers in Indian children. DESIGN Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations were measured at 28-32 wk gestation in 568 women who delivered at Holdsworth Memorial Hospital, Mysore, India. Anthropometric variables, glucose and insulin concentrations, blood pressure, and fasting lipid concentrations were measured in the offspring at 5 and 9.5 y of age. Muscle-grip strength was measured by using a hand-held dynamometer at age 9.5 y. Arm-muscle area was calculated as a measure of muscle mass. Fasting insulin resistance was calculated by using the homeostasis model assessment equation. RESULTS Sixty-seven percent of women had vitamin D deficiency [serum 25(OH)D concentration <50 nmol/L]. At ages 5 and 9.5 y, children born to vitamin D-deficient mothers had smaller arm-muscle area in comparison with children born to mothers without deficiency (P < 0.05). There was no difference in grip strength between offspring of women with and without vitamin D deficiency. At 9.5 y, children of vitamin D-deficient mothers had higher fasting insulin resistance than did children of nondeficient women (P = 0.04). There were no associations between maternal vitamin D status and other offspring risk factors at either age. CONCLUSION Intrauterine exposure to low 25(OH)D concentrations is associated with less muscle mass and higher insulin resistance in children.
Oligoclonal bands and increased cytokine levels in idiopathic intracranial hypertension

Objectives The pathogenesis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is currently unknown and there are speculations about the contribution of some immunologic factors. The aim of this study is to investigate the presence of oligoclonal bands (OCBs) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and/or serum cytokine levels in patients with IIH. Methods Patients fulfilling revised diagnostic criteria for IIH were included. Their demographic, clinical, ophthalmologic and laboratory features were examined. Serum and CSF samples were detected by isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting for OCBs. The samples of IIH patients and control groups were investigated by ELISA for cytokine levels. Results We detected OCBs in eight (30.77%) patients diagnosed with IIH. There were no other obvious clinical and laboratory differences of IIH profiles between the patients with and without OCBs, but frequency of vision loss was significantly higher in the group with OCBs in comparison to OCB negatives (p = 0.038). Patients with IIH had highly elevated TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17 in their sera compared to patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy controls. Furthermore, all cytokines except TNF-α in the CSF were found significantly higher in IIH patients compared to MS controls. Conclusion The presence of OCBs and elevated cytokine levels in IIH patients may support an immunologic background in the pathophysiological pathway of this disorder.
Exploiting the common structure of some edge linking algorithms: an experimental study

A class of edge linking algorithms with a common cost function was proposed by the authors. The cost function contains a quadratic regularization term and an image dependent term defined by a set of weighting functions. To define a new algorithm belonging to this class, the user has to specify a regularization matrix and a set of weighting functions which control the attraction of the model units towards the data. This paper compares the structure of the weighting functions associated with several well known algorithms which can be included in this framework (snakes, Kohonen (1982) maps, elastic nets, fuzzy c-means). This comparison allows a better understanding of their performance in edge linking operations. The paper also illustrates the design of new recursive schemes and describes techniques used to improve the convergence rate by more than one order of magnitude.
Novel adopted immunotherapy for mixed chimerism after unrelated cord blood transplantation in Omenn syndrome

Abstract: Omenn syndrome is a variant form of severe combined immunodeficiency. It is fatal unless treated by allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT), which is the only curative approach. However, both treatment‐related complications and graft rejection are major obstacles to treatment success. This report describes a case with Omenn syndrome who developed mixed chimerism after unrelated cord blood transplantation (UCBT). This case was successfully treated by altering the patient's immunosuppression and donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) with donor cord blood‐derived activated CD4+ T cells ex vivo expanded from the cord blood cell residues in an infused bag. This novel development to expand CD4+ T‐lymphocytes from the donor cord blood unit for the use of DLI would serve as a useful method to overcome the risk of graft rejection in SCT for primary immunodeficiency disorders with residual cell‐mediated immunity without compounding graft‐vs.‐host disease, especially in the UCBT setting.
Development of Sustainable Integrated Design Framework for Stream Restoration

This study analyzed the elements of previously published stream restoration guidelines by clarifying the definition of stream restoration classified for various purposes. The purpose of this study was to establish a sustainable integrated design framework for stream restoration that supplemented the limited scope of application and the resulting problems. Stream restoration procedures were established using the method of securing water resources applied with the integrated watershed management in order to effectively and feasibly recover the modified stream, to resolve the water shortage problem, and to effectively restore the ecosystem due to climate change. An 11-step stream restoration procedure was established in three phases including the pre-restoration design phase, the restoration design phase, and the detailed design phase. Furthermore, the three stages were classified into hydrologic and hydraulic plan, geomorphic and sediment transport plan, and ecological and environmental plan depending on the direction of stream restoration, and the procedure for stream restoration was proposed to prevent river restoration from being biased toward a specific goal. An integrated design framework for stream restoration could be established by allowing the proposed stream restoration design procedures (e.g., three phases and three plans) and the elements to be carried out using numerical models for an effective design in establishing river restoration plans. Lastly, it was possible to quantify the problems of existing stream restoration by applying this stream restoration framework to the existing river restoration project and guideline report. As a result, the existing stream restoration project could be used as base data that could provide directions to supplement the weaknesses of the existing stream restoration project and provide directions for the new river restoration projects in the future.
Totally distributed energy-efficient transmission design in MIMO interference channels

We consider the problem of maximizing the energy efficiency (EE) for a MIMO interference channel (IC), with the power constraint on each link. To obtain totally distributed solutions, this problem is formulated as a noncooperative game. We show that this game always admits a Nash equilibra (NE). Importantly, the sufficient condition that one can check to guarantee the uniqueness of the NE is derived. To reach the NE of this game, we provide a totally distributed EE algorithm, in which each player employs the fractional programming to update his own solution. These updates can be performed in a completely distributed and asynchronous fashion. Sufficient conditions that guarantee the convergence of the algorithm have been given as well. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm converges fast and significantly outperforms the existing algorithms in terms of the sum-EE or the sum-rate.
Restructuring Relations

This book interrogates normative conceptions of Indigenous self-determination and the structures of Indigenous self-government institutions, arguing that Indigenous self-determination is not achievable without restructuring all relations of domination beyond that with the state; nor can it be secured in the absence of gender justice. It demonstrates that the current rights discourse and focus on Indigenous–state relations is limited in scope and fails to convey the full meaning of self-determination for Indigenous peoples. Besides settler colonialism and neoliberal capitalism, relations of domination include racism, sexism, homophobia, misogyny, and gender violence, including violence against women, queer, trans and gender-nonconforming persons, and structural violence. Drawing on extensive participant interviews in Canada, Greenland, and Scandinavia, this book theorizes Indigenous self-determination as a foundational value, informed by the norm of integrity. This norm has two interrelated dimensions: bodily integrity and integrity of the land, both of which are a sine qua non for Indigenous gender justice. Conceptualizing self-determination as a foundational value seeks to restructure all relations of domination, including the hierarchical relation between self-determination and gender created and maintained by international law, Indigenous political discourse, and Indigenous institutions. The book argues that the persistent separation of issues between self-determination/self-government and gender/social is a major obstacle in implementing, realizing, and exercising Indigenous self-determination. Restructuring relations of domination further entails examining the gender regimes present in existing Indigenous self-government institutions, interrogating the relationship between Indigenous self-determination and gender violence, and considering future visions of Indigenous self-determination, including rematriation of Indigenous governance and an independent statehood.
Use of the MIDI‐FAME technique to characterize groundwater communities

Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiles were identified directly from groundwater microbial communities concentrated on and extracted with polycarbonate filters. The sensitivity of this direct extraction method was determined using pure cultures of Acinetobacter junii, Pseudomonas putida and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. A minimum concentration of 107 cells filter−1 was required to identify the predominant fatty acids from each culture. However, at least 3·7 × 109 cells filter−1 were required to obtain fatty acid profiles that matched the signature profiles for pure cultures in a commercial database. While several saturated fatty acids (i.e. 14 : 0, 16 : 0, 18 : 0) were extracted from the polycarbonate filters, they were readily subtracted from microbial fatty acid profiles and did not interfere with the characterization of pure cultures or environmental samples. For the environmental samples, 3 l of groundwater from the Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC, (USA) contained sufficient biomass for direct extraction. A comparative analysis of FAME groundwater profiles demonstrated a qualitative difference among communities sampled from spatially discrete locations, while a groundwater well that was sampled at two time points showed strong similarities over time. Concentration of microbial biomass on polycarbonate filters coupled with the MIDI‐FAME extraction of both biomass and filter was a useful technique to characterize microbial communities from groundwater.
Interobserver and Intraobserver Reliability of the Rome II Criteria in Children

BACKGROUND:Functional gastrointestinal disorders are common in children. It has been suggested that the diagnosis of these conditions should be based on the “pediatric Rome II” criteria. The interobserver reliability for the DSM-IV, another symptom-based criteria is considered almost perfect in multiple studies. There are no studies assessing the reliability of the Rome II criteria in children.OBJECTIVES:To evaluate the reliability of the pediatric Rome II criteria.METHODS:Interobserver reliability—Ten pediatric gastroenterologists and 10 fellows in pediatric gastroenterology were provided with 20 clinical vignettes, the Rome II criteria, and a list of 15 possible diagnoses. Each of the raters was instructed to select one or more diagnoses for each vignette. Intraobserver reliability—The specialists were provided with the same set of vignettes 4 months later.RESULTS:Average percentage of agreement coefficient: 45% (specialists), 47% (fellows). In order to correct for possible agreement by chance, we calculated the kappa coefficient, a measure of pairwise agreement corrected for chance. Specialists: k = 0.37 (p < 0.0001), trainees: k = 0.41, (p < 0.0001). Physicians with a special interest in functional gastrointestinal disorders (k = 0.37, p < 0.0001), and other specialists (k = 0.38, p < 0.0001). Analysis of data in pain and constipation diagnosis subgroups revealed even lower kappa (constipation: k = 0.2, p < 0.0001; pain: k = 0.3, p < 0.0001). Intraobserver agreement: k = 0.63 (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION:The interobserver reliability of the Rome II criteria among pediatric gastroenterologists and fellows is low. Further validation of the criteria is necessary.
Effects of 5 HIV Protease Inhibitors on Vasomotor Function and Superoxide Anion Production in Porcine Coronary Arteries

HIV protease inhibitors (PIs) have been implicated to cause cardiovascular complications. Previous studies demonstrated that the PI ritonavir (RTV) caused endothelial dysfunction in porcine arteries. This study investigated and compared the effects of 5 commonly used PIs on vasomotor function, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression, and oxidative stress in porcine coronary arteries. Vessel rings were incubated with 15 μM of RTV, amprenavir (APV), saquinavir (SQV), indinavir (IDV), or nelfinavir (NFV) for 24 hours. Vasomotor function was studied using a myograph system. The contractility of the rings was significantly reduced for RTV and SQV. In response to bradykinin at 10−5 M, the endothelium-dependent relaxation was significantly reduced for RTV, APV, and SQV. The eNOS mRNA levels were significantly reduced for RTV, APV, and SQV. Furthermore, the superoxide anion (O2−) levels of the vessels were significantly increased for RTV and APV. It was found that nitric oxide production was decreased, whereas the level of nitrotyrosine proteins was increased in RTV-treated vessels. Furthermore, antioxidant seleno-L-methionine (SeMet) reversed RTV-induced O2− production and vasomotor dysfunction. Thus, the HIV PIs RTV, APV, and SQV at 15 μM have more potent in vitro effects on vasomotor dysfunction, eNOS downregulation, and O2− production than IDV and NFV. The antioxidant SeMet can block these adverse effects of RTV. The results suggest that antioxidant therapy may have applications for controlling PI-associated cardiovascular complications.
Betulin inhibits virulence and biofilm of Streptococcus pyogenes by suppressing ropB core regulon, sagA and dltA.

The present study demonstrates the antivirulence potential of betulin, an abundantly available triterpenoid against Streptococcus pyogenes, a multivirulent and exclusive human pathogen. Crystal violet assay and microscopic examination revealed that betulin (100 μg mL-1) exhibits surface-independent antibiofilm activity and mitigates extracellular polymeric substance production. Betulin treatment enhanced the rate of auto-aggregation in liquid medium. Results of real-time PCR and biochemical assays demonstrated that betulin suppresses the expression of ropB core regulon, sagA and dltA, which correspondingly affects SpeB production, hemolysis and cell surface hydrophobicity for the observed impairment in virulence and biofilm formation. dltA downregulation also affected the production of M protein, making betulin-treated cells more susceptible to phagocytosis. The non-toxic nature of betulin and its antivirulence potential against S. pyogenes were manifested in vivo in Caenorhabditis elegans This study reveals the prospective role of betulin as therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of streptococcal infections.
Virtual machine placement for backhaul traffic minimization in fog radio access networks

With the advance of wireless technologies, the rapid mobile data traffic growth will lead to severe network resource consumption and exceptionally long latency to access services, especially for cloud-based applications. To tackle these issues, Fog Radio Access Network (F-RAN) is recently emerged for next generation cellular networks. F-RAN is considered as an extension of the cloud computing paradigm to the edge of the network and a highly virtualized platform that provides computing, storage, and network services for mobile devices. However, how to appropriately place virtual machines (VMs) into fog nodes in F-RAN systems is very challenging, and will significantly affect the bandwidth consumption of backhaul links. Thus this paper studies the replication-based VM placement problem, and aims at minimizing the total backhaul traffic generated by VM migrations and data transmissions. We observe that the VM placement operation should not be frequently executed and practically considers the problem in a long term aspect. Then we propose a heuristic algorithm to solve the problem. The simulation results agree our observation and show that compared with a greedy approach and an optimal algorithm, the proposed algorithm demonstrates with favorable results for the overall backhaul network usage.
Exposure to Petroleum Hydrocarbon: Implications in Lung Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidant Defense System in Rat

Objective: Various studies have implicated automobile exhausts as risk factors in cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases; however, there is little or no documentation on the role of the main source of the exhausts, petroleum hydrocarbons, on cardiopulmonary pathologies. Thus, we investigated the effect of petroleum hydrocarbons, using various petroleum products, on histomorphology of the lung and the role of lipid peroxidation in it. Materials and Methods: Control rats were not exposed to any of the petroleum products, whereas petrol-exposed, diesel-exposed, and kerosene-exposed rats were exposed to petrol, diesel, and kerosene by inhalation, respectively. Results: Exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons significantly induced lipid peroxidation with a consequent rise in malondialdehyde (MDA), and a decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities and glutathione (GSH) level. Exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons also caused an alteration in the histomorphology of lung tissues. Conclusion: Our findings imply that exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons by inhalation is a risk factor in the pathophysiology of pulmonary dysfunction. This is associated with oxidative stress.