Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Processed and Unprocessed Red Meat Consumption and Incident Type 2 Diabetes Among French Women

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relation of processed and unprocessed red meat and incident type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted a prospective study among 66,118 disease-free French women with dietary information from a validated questionnaire. Between 1993 and 2007, we identified 1,369 cases of incident diabetes. Multivariate analyses were adjusted for age, education, region, smoking, BMI, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, physical activity, parental history of diabetes, menopause, hormone replacement therapy, alcohol, calories, n-3 fatty acids, carbohydrates, coffee, fiber, and fruits and vegetables. RESULTS Comparing the highest category of processed meat intake, ≥5 servings/week (median, 48 g/day), to the lowest, <1 serving/week (median, 5 g/day), processed meat was significantly associated with incident diabetes (hazard ratio 1.30 [95% CI 1.07–1.59], P trend = 0.0007; for 1 serving/day, 1.29 [1.14–1.45]). Unprocessed red meat was not associated with diabetes. CONCLUSIONS In this large prospective cohort of French women, a direct association was observed only for processed red meat and type 2 diabetes.
Dynamic strength of a modified W-beam BCT trailing-end termination system

W-beam systems utilise end-terminal anchorages to develop tension upstream and downstream of an impact event. However, the capacities of the anchorage components under impact loading are not well known. One such W-beam end-anchorage system, the Midwest guardrail system (MGS) trailing-end anchorage, was evaluated using three dynamic component tests – a soil foundation tube pull test, a breakaway cable terminal (BCT) post splitting test, and an MGS end-anchorage system pull test. The peak load recorded during a soil foundation tube test was 193 kN at 56 mm deflection, as measured at the ground line. BCT posts split at loads of 17.8 and 32.9 kN. The end-anchorage tensile capacity was 156 kN, dissipating 64.7 kJ. Results from the component tests were also used to create and validate nonlinear finite element models of the components in order to be used for future design and analysis of end anchorages.
Discussions Regarding Sperm Banking With Adolescent and Young Adult Males Who Have Cancer

With improved survival rates among cancer patients, attention to fertility preservation is of paramount importance. An open-ended survey was used to question oncology and reproductive health nurses regarding their interactions with male adolescents and young adults with cancer about sperm banking. Four main areas of interest were identified: (a) key staff need to be identified to initiate discussions about sperm banking, (b) most staff felt unprepared for these discussions, (c) staff education was needed, and (d) provision of educational materials would benefit both staff and patients. The use of sperm banking, as part of the treatment protocol for adolescent and young adult males with cancer, requires the expertise and cooperation of a multidisciplinary team of experts from both oncology and fertility. Because nurses are the primary contacts with patients, nurses' role in promoting the discussion around sperm banking is crucial.
Recovery from repeated on-court tennis sessions: combining cold-water immersion, compression, and sleep recovery interventions.

PURPOSE To investigate the effects of combining cold-water immersion (CWI), full-body compression garments (CG), and sleep-hygiene recommendations on physical, physiological, and perceptual recovery after 2-a-day on-court training and match-play sessions. METHODS In a crossover design, 8 highly trained tennis players completed 2 sessions of on-court tennis-drill training and match play, followed by a recovery or control condition. Recovery interventions included a mixture of 15 min CWI, 3 h of wearing full-body CG, and following sleep-hygiene recommendations that night, while the control condition involved postsession stretching and no regulation of sleeping patterns. Technical performance (stroke and error rates), physical performance (accelerometry, countermovement jump [CMJ]), physiological (heart rate, blood lactate), and perceptual (mood, exertion, and soreness) measures were recorded from each on-court session, along with sleep quantity each night. RESULTS While stroke and error rates did not differ in the drill session (P > .05, d < 0.20), large effects were evident for increased time in play and stroke rate in match play after the recovery interventions (P > .05, d > 0.90). Although accelerometry values did not differ between conditions (P > .05, d < 0.20), CMJ tended to be improved before match play with recovery (P > .05, d = 0.90). Furthermore, CWI and CG resulted in faster postsession reductions in heart rate and lactate and reduced perceived soreness (P > .05, d > 1.00). In addition, sleep-hygiene recommendations increased sleep quantity (P > .05, d > 2.00) and maintained lower perceived soreness and fatigue (P < .05, d > 2.00). CONCLUSIONS Mixed-method recovery interventions (CWI and CG) used after tennis sessions increased ensuing time in play and lower-body power and reduced perceived soreness. Furthermore, sleep-hygiene recommendations helped reduce perceived soreness.
Coronary flow rate and perfusion pressure as determinants of mechanical function and oxidative metabolism of isolated perfused rat heart.

The isolated rat heart, perfused by various modifications of the Langendorff technique, has been used extensively to gain information about factors controlling total myocardial oxygen uptake (Fisher & Williamson, 1961), as well as the uptake and fate of glucose (Bleehen & Fisher, 1954; Morgan, Henderson, Regen & Park, 1961; Opie, Shipp, Evans & Leboeuf, 1962; Williamson, 1962), pyruvate (Evans, Opie & Renold, 1963), lactate (Williamson, 1962), ketone bodies (Williamson & Krebs, 1961) and longchain fatty acids (Shipp, Opie & Challoner, 1961; Evans, Opie & Shipp, 1963). Very little attention has, however, been paid to the possible effects of variations of the coronary flow rate on the metabolism and mechanical function of the isolated rat heart. The study reported here was prompted by the observation that modifications in the coronary flow rate resulted in rapid changes in the amplitude of left ventricular contraction. Further experiments demonstrated that the metabolic activity of this preparation was also influenced by the coronary flow rate. METHODS
Rapid identification of Candida species in oral rinse solutions by PCR

Aims: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of a multiplex PCR assay for the contemporary identification of major species involved in oral candidiasis, without extraction and purification of DNA from the samples under investigation; and evaluation of this method in comparison with routine phenotypic culture identification. Methods: 78 oral rinse solutions were collected. The concentrated oral rinse technique was used for a quantitative and qualitative study. Research and identification of Candida spp, with routine phenotypic culture identification (germ-tube test in serum at 37°C for 3 hours and sugar assimilation strip analysis), were performed. Each sample was analysed with multiplex PCR directly on oral rinse solution. Samples giving discrepant results between routine phenotypic and PCR identification methods were resubcultured on CHROMagar Candida plates. The fungus-specific primers ITS1, ITS2, CA3, and CA4 were used. For the identification of other species (C kefyr, C famata and C dubliniensis), ITS1F, ITS1K, and ITS2D primers were designed. Results: Multiplex PCR correctly identified all samples, including those with single species, or with mixed species, negative samples and positive samples which appeared to be negative from routine phenotypic methods. Conclusion: This multiplex PCR assay provides a rapid alternative to the conventional culture based technique for the identification and speciation of the most frequently isolated Candida species. The absence of an extraction method made identification of 10 species possible in a few hours.
Localização para Smart Devices tirando partido de iBeacons

A massificacao dos dispositivos de localizacao por satelite popularizou este tema, que hoje em dia se encontra amplamente experimentado e testado. Por outro lado, a evolucao dos dispositivos moveis traz novas tecnologias e funcionalidades. O Bluetooth v4.0 e uma delas. Os iBeacons contem esta tecnologia e com base nas vantagens que traz, como o baixo custo e o baixo consumo, foi desenvolvido um sistema de localizacao baseado no RSSI. Este sistema e composto por dispositivos moveis, como os telemoveis de ultima geracao, com o Sistema Operativo Android e uma aplicacao criada para o efeito da localizacao e os iBeacons como pontos de referencia
Sweeping-based volumetric calibration and registration of multiple RGBD-sensors for 3D capturing systems

The accurate calibration and registration of a set of color and depth (RGBD) sensors into a shared coordinate system is an essential requirement for 3D surround capturing systems. We present a method to calibrate multiple unsynchronized RGBD-sensors with high accuracy in a matter of minutes by sweeping a tracked checkerboard through the desired capturing space in front of each sensor. Through the sweeping process, a large number of robust correspondences between the depth and the color image as well as the 3D world positions can be automatically established. In order to obtain temporally synchronized correspondences between an RGBD-sensor's data streams and the tracked target's positions we apply an off-line optimization process based on error minimization and a coplanarity constraint. The correspondences are entered into a 3D look-up table which is used during runtime to transform depth and color information into the application's world coordinate system. Our proposed method requires a manual effort of less than one minute per RGBD-sensor and achieves a high calibration accuracy with an average 3D error below 3.5 mm and an average texture reprojection error smaller than 1 pixel.
New strategies for coordinated control in power distribution grids — Effective integration of photovoltaic plants utilizing sensitivity analysis

This investigation aims at providing recommendations to distribution system operators on how to effectively integrate photovoltaic plants in the distribution network. The focus is laid on utilizing the sensitivity analysis to coordinate voltage control and optimize the total reactive power required. Furthermore novel strategies are introduced for an effective use of the reactive power capability of PV plants. The main goal is to pave the way for system operators to use PV plants for operation management purposes by means of integrating them in their SCADA system.
Relationships Between Clinician Variability and Radiographic Guidelines

This study evaluated the replicability of clinical measurements under careful calibration of multiple dentists and how the replicability can relate to their use as selection criteria in guidelines for prescribing dental radiographs. For 48 consenting patients, three dentists clinically examined each patient and recorded the presence of all clinical findings using standardized selection criteria. The examinations were performed independently of each other, but with periodic conferences of the dentists to clarify general measurement criteria. The degree of agreement among the dentists is described by the interrater agreement kappa for several standard clinical indications such as rating of caries, periodontal disease, and tooth mobility. Almost perfect agreement was obtained for tooth status, restoration size, and restoration material. Moderate agreement resulted for measures of caries, defective restoration presence, and gingival recession presence. Only fair agreement was obtained for other periodontal disease measures. The relationship between extent of agreement and guidelines' results was examined for the FDA Guidelines. The differences among the dentists' clinical measurements resulted in considerable differences among the radiographs that were selected by the FDA Guidelines' criteria. Even so, the missed disease rates for 490 patients in a larger study of the FDA Guidelines' efficacy were very low and did not vary greatly among the three dentists. We conclude that guidelines' criteria can be quite robust to variation from dentists' clinical measurement differences, as seen from the FDA Guidelines applied under the idealized setting where the dentists are periodically recalibrated through group discussions of the clinical measurements' definitions and interpretations.
POINT-TO-POINT FREE SPACE OPTICAL LINK

Free Space Optical (FSO) communication is a very recent and emerging technology to establish broadband wireless data transmission system using modulated optical beams. The adoption of FSO system is mainly needed when any physical connection between the transmitter and receiver is practically impossible and where high bandwidth data transmission is expected. The performance of FSO communication technology is highly dependent on atmospheric attenuation which is related to the visibility of the different weather conditions as well as operating wavelengths. This paper presents our study about the effect of visibility as well as operating wavelengths on atmospheric attenuation in different weather conditions for point-to-point free space optical link. Moreover, it also discusses the methodology to find out the optimum link distance for point-to-point FSO link which will be operated in different weather conditions. It is found that, atmospheric attenuation is changed with the change in weather condition as well as operating wavelengths.
Research on eigenfrequency shifts due to cracks in cylindrical structures and the application in non-destructive testing

This paper presents numerical and experimental studies on modal behavior of cylindrical, beam-like lightly damped structures having circumferential cracks with variable position, width and depth. In the numerical investigation utilizing Finite-Elements a discretization strategy is worked out that enables a three-dimensional crack representation. The experimental setup uses a Laser Scanning Vibrometer in the frequency range between 0 – 40 kHz. The major challenges to achieve adequate precision of the experimental data exist in the realization of a broadband impulse excitation and support conditions for repeatable measurement conditions. Numerically as experimentally the first 15 mode shape pairs with the corresponding eigenfrequencies are identified. The model updating is performed for the elastic parameters and appropriate boundary conditions to minimize the deviation between measured and calculated eigenfrequencies. The acquired data serves for the implementation of a damage identification procedure in which the geometrical crack properties are identified. The deviation between real and determined crack positions is lower than 0.3 % for crack cross-section ratios less than 7 %.
Geology of Sierra de Samalayuca, Chihuahua, Mexico

Sierra de Samalyuca is a linear range about 410 meters high and 19 kilometers long, just west of the Juarez-Chihuahua highway, 55 kilometers south of Juarez. The three rock types in the sierra are mildly metamorphosed shale, conglomerate, and quartzarenite. They were probably derived from a northern source which yielded chiefly metaquartz, metachert, and igneous quartz. These rocks were deposited at some time after Precambrian and probably before Late Jurassic time. They now stand in an asymmetrical anticline whose axis strikes N 50° W. These rocks appear to underlie outcrops of Late Jurassic rocks which crop out 2 kilometers northeast of the sierra. Although the Jurassic rocks are not metamorphosed and appear to have been deposited on undeformed rocks that now form the sierra, the sierra rocks now contain metamorphic minerals including muscovite, chlorite and sericite. The micas formed as a result of large shear stresses developed during the folding of the rigid, thick quartzarenite and conglomerate beds. The more plastic Jurassic siltstone and limestone beds yielded before developing large stresses, and consequently, micas did not
Gender Differences in Political and Civic Engagement Among Young People

The explosion of interest in the political and civic engagement of young people has brought increasing attention to the question of gender differences in youth engagement. One reason is that the study of young people may provide particular leverage on a common explanation for gender differences observed among adults, specifically that greater rates of participation among men—when present—arise from their advantage in the cognitive and material resources that promote political activity and that access to politically relevant resources are more equally distributed among younger citizens so that there is more gender uniformity than gender difference among the young. This paper uses data from nationwide surveys of 18 to 24 year olds in 2006 and 2007 to examine the roots of gender differences in political activities and in community/nonprofit activities. After examining basic patterns of difference, it develops a multivariate model and applies it separately to young men and young women. The results of this analysis are then used as the point of departure for a preliminary analysis of the differential effects that male and female parents have on their children. Overall, we find evidence that having well-educated parents who are interested in politics affects women more than men. Talking to parents about politics seems to increase electoral engagement for young women more than for young men; but it also seems to increase community and nonprofit engagement for young men more than for young women.
Topological property of trajectories computed from sinusoidal inputs for nonholonomic chained form systems

This paper deals with nonholonomic motion planning including obstacle avoidance capabilities. We show that the methods developed in absence of obstacles can be extended to the problem of obstacle avoidance, provided that they verify a topological property. This property is proved for the method using sinusoidal inputs applied to chained form systems, and illustrated through the tractor-trailer example.
Progressive HTTP-based querying of remote databases within the Marmotta iconic VQS

The Marmotta system described serves as a graphical interface for querying remote databases which have already been provided with a software layer to communicate with the WWW world. It can be used as a convenient alternative to the forms embedded within the WWW clients. Within Marmotta, icons are used to present the domain of interest and the retrieval requests in an original way, and are managed by the user in a direct manipulation style. The ease-of-use characterizing form-based interfaces is preserved (users need not know the structure of the database) while expressive power is greatly increased. Moreover, Marmotta provides comfortable mechanisms for browsing, manipulating and reusing query results as well as previous queries, thus strongly supporting non-motonic, progressive query processes.
Underwater acoustic-based navigation towards multi-vehicle operation and adaptive oceanographic sampling

It is important to register oceanographic data into a geo-referenced coordinate system. Knowing the location of the sampling is critical. For a marine robotic network, the location of Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) can be measured using a Global Positioning System (GPS), however the navigation of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) is more challenging. In this paper, we present a method for determining the position of underwater vehicles from a moving USV using the relative range information provided by an Ultra-Short Baseline (USBL)/acoustic modem. The navigation method uses an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) to update the states predicted from a model-based dead-reckoning technique. Since the vehicle model is relative to the surrounding fluid, we have introduced two environmental states in the state matrix. Such a modification allows us to quantify the effects induced by the ocean current on the vehicle's speed. Beyond that, the method uses a limited number of sensors, only attitude sensors and an USBL/acoustic modem, offering an alternative for AUVs without expensive instruments such as a Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) and an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). Experiments are conducted to evaluate the range-based navigation method on a hybrid Slocum underwater glider with an USV. As a result from the reference trial, the estimated glider position stays within the error of 15 meters comparing to the measured position of a surface buoy where the glider is attached. In the open-water trial, trajectories estimated from the range-based navigation are compared with dead-reckoning paths and current-compensated dead-reckoning paths (reference). As a result, the distance errors are bounded with the proposed navigation method while the dead-reckoning errors grow without bound.
A Prospective Evaluation of the Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Intron 2 Gene Polymorphism and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction

Summary While an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphism (IL1RN-VNTR) has recently been hypothesized to be a risk factor for coronary artery disease, no prospective data relating this polymorphism to subsequent risk of coronary events are available. We therefore investigated the association between IL1RN-VNTR genotype and the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) in a large, prospective cohort of initially healthy men. The IL1RN-VNTR was evaluated among 385 MI case subjects and an equal number of age- and smoking-matched control subjects during a 12-year follow-up. Overall, the allele and g enotype distributions were similar among cases and controls, both in the total cohort and in all subgroups evaluated. All observed genotype frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Furthermore, the relative risk in a comparison of homozygous mutant to homozygous wild-type was 0.89 (95%CI = 0.5-1.6; P = 0.9). In this large, prospective study, the IL1RN-VNTR gene polymorphism is not associated with risks of future MI. These data also highlight the importance of hypothesis testing studies in genetic epidemiology, particularly for hypotheses generated from small samples or post hoc subgroup analyses.