Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Obesity and risk factors for the metabolic syndrome among low-income, urban, African American schoolchildren: the rule rather than the exception?

BACKGROUND Adult obesity is associated with the metabolic syndrome; however, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among young children has not been reported. Clinic-based screening efforts for the metabolic syndrome in low-income neighborhoods, where obesity is prevalent, are limited by minimal health insurance coverage and inadequate access to health care. School-based obesity screening programs may effectively target high-risk populations. OBJECTIVE The objective was to describe the prevalence of overweight and features of the metabolic syndrome (defined as the presence of > or =3 of the following risk factors: HDL < or = 40 mg/dL, triacylglycerol > or = 110 mg/dL, and blood pressure or waist circumference at or above the 90th percentile) in a pilot, school-based screening program. DESIGN A cross-sectional study of obesity and the metabolic syndrome was conducted in third- to sixth-grade, low-income, urban, African American children. Lipid and glucose concentrations were measured in fasting capillary finger-stick samples. RESULTS Age- and sex-specific BMI percentiles were assessed in 385 students, 90 of whom were full participants in this study (participants) and 295 of whom had only height and weight measurements taken (other students). Risk factors of the metabolic syndrome were assessed in the 90 participants (23%). No significant differences in BMI percentiles were found between the participants and the other students. Overall, 44% of the participants had BMIs at or above the 85th percentile, and 59% had an elevated BMI or one metabolic syndrome risk factor. The metabolic syndrome was present in 5.6% of all participants, in 13.8% of participants with BMIs at or above the 95th percentile, and in 0% of participants with BMIs below the 95th percentile. CONCLUSIONS Most of the African American children attending 2 urban schools in low-income neighborhoods were overweight or had one or more risk factors for the metabolic syndrome. School-based screening programs in high-risk populations may provide an efficient venue for the screening of obesity and related risk factors.
Copper uptake, patterns of bioaccumulation, and effects in glochidia (larvae) of the freshwater mussel (Lampsilis cardium)

The early life stages of freshwater mussels are particularly sensitive to copper (Cu) contamination. We measured the acute toxicity, bioaccumulation, and sublethal effects of Cu in glochidia. In addition, we used radiolabeled Cu (64Cu) to examine the time‐dependent kinetics of uptake over 24 h. Uptake of 64Cu by live and dead glochidia exposed to 0.11 μmol/L exhibited similar hyperbolic patterns over the first 40 min, indicating an adsorptive phase independent of larval metabolism. Thereafter, uptake was linear with time, with a 10‐fold lower bioaccumulation rate in live than in dead animals, representing a close to steady state of Cu regulation. In contrast, dead glochidia exhibited a progressively increasing uptake, possibly attributable to the fact that metal‐binding sites become more accessible. Mortality was strongly correlated with bioaccumulation (48 h); live glochidia exposed to Cu concentrations >0.27 μmol/L lost their regulatory ability and accumulated Cu to an even greater extent than dead animals. Exposure to Cu induced significant decreases in whole‐body Na+ and Mg2+ concentrations; increases in reactive oxygen species concentration, lipid peroxidation, and protein carbonylation; and a decrease in antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals. Overall, these results clarify the patterns of Cu uptake and regulation, emphasize the importance of distinguishing between live and dead larvae, and indicate that toxicity is associated with Cu bioaccumulation, involving both ionoregulatory disturbance and oxidative stress. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1092–1103. © 2017 SETAC
JPSS-1 VIIRS Pre-Launch Response Versus Scan Angle Testing and Performance

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instruments on-board both the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) and the first Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS-1) spacecraft, with launch dates of October 2011 and December 2016 respectively, are cross-track scanners with an angular swath of ±56.06°. A four-mirror Rotating Telescope Assembly (RTA) is used for scanning combined with a Half Angle Mirror (HAM) that directs light exiting from the RTA into the aft-optics. It has 14 Reflective Solar Bands (RSBs), seven Thermal Emissive Bands (TEBs) and a panchromatic Day Night Band (DNB). There are three internal calibration targets, the Solar Diffuser, the BlackBody and the Space View, that have fixed scan angles within the internal cavity of VIIRS. VIIRS has calibration requirements of 2% on RSB reflectance and as tight as 0.4% on TEB radiance that requires the sensor’s gain change across the scan or Response Versus Scan angle (RVS) to be well quantified. A flow down of the top level calibration requirements put constraints on the characterization of the RVS to 0.2%–0.3% but there are no specified limitations on the magnitude of response change across scan. The RVS change across scan angle can vary significantly between bands with the RSBs having smaller changes of ~2% and some TEBs having ~10% variation. Within a band, the RVS has both detector and HAM side dependencies that vary across scan. Errors in the RVS characterization will contribute to image banding and striping artifacts if their magnitudes are above the noise level of the detectors. The RVS was characterized pre-launch for both S-NPP and JPSS-1 VIIRS and a comparison of the RVS curves between these two sensors will be discussed.
Dietary glycemic index and carbohydrate in relation to early age-related macular degeneration.

BACKGROUND Several dietary factors have been linked to age-related maculopathy (ARM), the early form of age-related macular degeneration, and there is reason to think that dietary carbohydrate may play a role in the development of ARM. OBJECTIVE The purpose of the present study was to examine the relation between dietary carbohydrate quality, as measured by dietary glycemic index (GI) or total carbohydrate intake, and ARM. DESIGN From the Nurses' Health Study, 1036 eyes from 526 Boston-area participants without a previous ARM diagnosis were included in the present study. The presence and degree of ARM were classified by the Age-Related Eye Diseases Study system. Long-term dietary information was based on data from an average of 4 food-frequency questionnaires collected over a 10-y period before the assessment of ARM. With eyes as the unit of analysis, we used a generalized estimating approach to logistic regression to estimate the odds ratios for ARM in a manner that accounted for the lack of independence between the 2 eyes from the same subject. RESULTS After multivariate adjustment, dietary GI was related to ARM (specifically to retinal pigmentary abnormalities), whereas total carbohydrate intake was not. The odds ratio for ARM being in the highest tertile of dietary GI (> or =77.0) versus the lowest (<74.6) was 2.71 (95% CI: 1.24, 5.93; P for trend = 0.01). Neither dietary GI nor total carbohydrate intake was related to drusen. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that dietary GI may be an independent risk factor for ARM.
Pain acceptance potentially mediates the relationship between pain catastrophizing and post-surgery outcomes among compensated lumbar fusion patients

Purpose Chronic low back pain is highly prevalent and often treatment recalcitrant condition, particularly among workers’ compensation patients. There is a need to identify psychological factors that may predispose such patients to pain chronicity. The primary aim of this study was to examine whether pain acceptance potentially mediated the relationship between pain catastrophizing and post-surgical outcomes in a sample of compensated lumbar fusion patients. Patients and methods Patients insured with the Workers Compensation Fund of Utah and who were at least 2 years post-lumbar fusion surgery completed an outcome survey. These data were obtained from a prior retrospective-cohort study that administered measures of pain catastrophizing, pain acceptance, mental and physical health, and disability. Results Of the 101 patients who completed the outcome survey, 75.2% were male with a mean age of 42.42 years and predominantly identified as White (97.0%). The majority of the participants had a posterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery. Pain acceptance, including activity engagement and pain willingness, was significantly correlated with better physical health and mental health, and lower disability rates. Pain catastrophizing was inversely correlated with measures of pain acceptance (activity engagement r=−0.67, p<0.01, pain willingness r=−0.73, p<0.01) as well as the outcome measures: mental health, physical health, and disability. Pain acceptance significantly mediated the relationship between pain catastrophizing and both mental and physical health and also the relationship between pain catastrophizing and disability. Conclusion This study demonstrated that the relationship between pain catastrophizing and negative patient outcomes was potentially mediated by pain acceptance. Understanding this mediating relationship offers insight into how pain acceptance may play a protective role in patients’ pain and disability and has potential implications for pain treatments.
The Decline in Asset Return Predictability and Macroeconomic Volatility

We document strong U.S. stock and bond return predictability from several macroeconomic volatility series before 1982, and a significant decline in this predictability during the Great Moderation. These findings are robust to alternative empirical specifications and out-of-sample tests. We explore the predictability decline using a model that incorporates monetary policy and shocks with time-varying volatility. The decline is consistent with changes in both policy and shock dynamics. While an increase in the response to inflation in the interest-rate policy rule decreases volatility, more persistent and less volatile shocks explain the lower predictability.
Effect of baru (Dipteryx alata Vog.) addition on the composition and nutritional quality of cookies

The use of the defatted baru almond (Dipteryx alata Vog.) prevents the production of waste residues after extraction of its oil (partially defatted baru flour), representing a process of interest from an environmental point of view. The aim of this study was to prepare oat cookies with functional properties, replacing 100% soy oil for baru oil and 30% wheat flour for partially defatted baru flour (baru cookie). Baru cookies presented a higher moisture (7.80%), probably due to the high content of dietary fiber (3.78%), resulting in a lower calorie content (457.46 kcal.100 g–1), compared to traditional oat cookies. Changing the formulation resulted in the enrichment of a number of microelements, including phosphorus (~ 197.90 mg.100 g–1) and iron (~ 21.56 mg.100 g–1). Baru oil increased the concentration of unsaturated fatty acids (~ 76.11%), consisting of approximately 50.37% monounsaturated (MUFA), and 25.74% polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The total phenolic compound content was approximately doubled in the baru cookie. As such, the baru cookie presents an interesting composition from a nutritional point of view, having a high protein and dietary fiber content, in addition to presenting substantial concentrations of iron and oleic acid, and may be used as part of a healthy diet.
Association Between a Physical Activity Vital Sign and Cardiometabolic Disease in High-Risk Patients.

OBJECTIVE To determine the association between the physical activity vital sign (PAVS) and markers of cardiometabolic disease. DESIGN Patients were assessed through the PAVS, a validated tool self-reporting the frequency and duration of physical activity. Patients were categorized into 3 groups: inactive (0 minutes per week), underactive (1-149 minutes per week), and active (>150 minutes per week). Associations were tested between the PAVS and the cardiometabolic disease biomarkers of body mass index, hemoglobin A1c (A1c), blood pressure, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) using one-way analyses of variance. SETTING High-risk family medicine residency clinic. PARTICIPANTS Two thousand three hundred twenty-one adult patients (age ≥ 18 years). RESULTS Participants reported a mean of 97.87 (SD = 149.35) minutes per week of exercise. Overall, 50.1% reported physical inactivity, 25.7% were underactive, and 24.3% were active. Younger individuals (P < 0.001) and men (P < 0.05) reported more physical activity than older individuals and women. Patients who reported being active were significantly less likely to be overweight (P < 0.05), obese (P < 0.05), or hypertensive (P < 0.05), but there was no association with A1c or LDL levels. CONCLUSIONS This is the first investigation to examine the PAVS in a high-risk population. In these patients, reported levels of physical inactivity are 150% higher than other clinical settings, and the PAVS is only associated with improvements in 2 of 4 major cardiometabolic risk factors. For this group, self-reported levels of physical activity may need to be higher for cardiovascular benefits to be realized in all 4 cardiometabolic domains. The PAVS offers health professionals an opportunity to encourage lifestyle-based interventions to reduce cardiovascular risk, but refinements may be necessary to address this population.
Bioelectrical impedance analysis for predicting body composition: what about the external validity of new regression equations?

In a recent issue of the Journal, Sun et al (1) emphasized the importance of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) for large-scale epidemiologic studies. In their well-designed and detailed investigation, the authors combined several methods to assess different body compartments in 1474 whites and 355 blacks. In a multistep procedure, they used these results to develop a model for predicting total body water and fat-free mass (FFM) from BIA resistance. First, total body fat was calculated by using body weight, body volume derived from hydrostatic weighing, total body water calculated with the deuterium dilution method, and total-body bone mineral content determined with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Second, in a regression analysis, these data were used to develop preliminary equations for calculating FFM from BIA resistance. After cross-validation, final equations were derived that were fitted to FFM calculated from the multicompartment model with a very high precision (
Maslinic acid promotes autophagy by disrupting the interaction between Bcl2 and Beclin1 in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells

Maslinic acid (2α, 3β-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid, MA) was isolated from natural plants and showed anti-cancer activity in rat Pheochromocytoma PC12 cells in our previous studies. We now discover that MA disrupts the interaction between Bcl2 and autophagy scaffold protein Beclin1 in the above cell line, leading to the up-regulation of autophagy. We investigated the effect of MA on the interaction between Bcl2 and Beclin1 by biochemical and biophysical methods in combination with autophagy characterization in the above cell line. Our results suggest that MA may serve as an autophagy activator by directly blocking the Bcl2-Beclin1 interaction to release free Beclin1 required for the recruitment of autophagy positive regulators, implying MA may exert its anti-cancer activity by regulating autophagy.
Measuring a caring culture in hospitals: a systematic review of instruments

Objective To identify instruments or components of instruments that aim to measure aspects of a caring culture-shared beliefs, norms and values that direct professionals and managers to act caring in hospitals, and to evaluate their psychometric properties. Design Systematic review. Data sources PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsychInfo, Web of Science and the International bibliography of the Social Sciences. Study selection Peer-reviewed articles describing (components of) instruments measuring aspects of a caring culture in a hospital setting. Studies had to report psychometric data regarding the reliability or validity of the instrument. Potentially useful instruments that were identified after the title and abstract scan were assessed on relevance by an expert panel (n=12) using the RAND-modified Delphi procedure. Results Of the 6399 references identified, 75 were examined in detail. 7 studies each covering a unique instrument met our inclusion criteria. On average, 24% of the instrument's items were considered relevant for measuring aspects of the hospital's caring culture. Studies showed moderate-to-high validity and reliability scores. Validity was addressed for 6 of the 7 instruments. Face, content (90%) and construct (60%) validity were the most frequently reported psychometric properties described. One study (14%) reported discriminant validity of the instrument. Reliability data were available for all of the instruments. Internal consistency was the most frequently reported psychometric property for the instruments and demonstrated by: a Cronbach's α coefficient (80%), subscale intercorrelations (60%), and item–total correlations (40%). Conclusions The ultimate standard for measuring a caring culture in hospitals does not exist. Existing instruments provide partial coverage and lack information on discriminant validity, responsiveness and feasibility. Characteristics of the instruments included in this review could provide useful input for the design of a reliable and valid instrument for measuring a caring culture in hospitals.
Algorithmic Geographies: Big Data, Algorithmic Uncertainty, and the Production of Geographic Knowledge

Drawing on examples from human mobility research, I argue in this article that the advent of big data has significantly increased the role of algorithms in mediating the geographic knowledge production process. This increased centrality of algorithmic mediation introduces much more uncertainty to the geographic knowledge generated when compared to traditional modes of geographic inquiry. This article reflects on important changes in the geographic knowledge production process associated with the shift from using traditional “small data” to using big data and explores how computerized algorithms could considerably influence research results. I call into question the much touted notion of data-driven geography, which ignores the potentially significant influence of algorithms on research results, and the fact that knowledge about the world generated with big data might be more an artifact of the algorithms used than the data itself. As the production of geographic knowledge is now far more dependent on computerized algorithms than before, this article asserts that it is more appropriate to refer to this new kind of geographic inquiry as algorithm-driven geographies (or algorithmic geographies) rather than data-driven geography. The notion of algorithmic geographies also foregrounds the need to pay attention to the effects of algorithms on the content, reliability, and social implications of the geographic knowledge these algorithms help generate. The article highlights the need for geographers to remain attentive to the omissions, exclusions, and marginalizing power of big data. It stresses the importance of practicing critical reflexivity with respect to both the knowledge production process and the data and algorithms used in the process.
Differences in Strategies According to the Task Assigned to the Model Aims Considerations Validation Prediction Parsimony

Multivariable regression models are widely used in health science research, mainly for two purposes: prediction and effect estimation. Various strategies have been recommended when building a regression model: a) use the right statistical method that matches the structure of the data; b) ensure an appropriate sample size by limiting the number of variables according to the number of events; c) prevent or correct for model overfitting; d) be aware of the problems associated with automatic variable selection procedures (such as stepwise), and e) always assess the performance of the final model in regard to calibration and discrimination measures. If resources allow, validate the prediction model on external data. 2011 Sociedad Española de Cardiologı́a. Published by Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved. Estrategias para la elaboración de modelos estadı́sticos de regresión
Change of Residual Stresses and Electrical Properties of Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 Thin Films Upon Introducing Various Bottom Electrodes

Effects of Pb(Zr0.5Ti0.5)O3 (PZT) thickness on the residual stresses and the electrical properties of a PZT thin-film layer were discussed for the PZT/Pt/SrTiO3 or PZT/(La0.5Sr0.5)CoO3/SrTiO3 system. Bottom electrodes, i.e., Pt and (La, Sr)CoO3 (LSCO) thin films, were deposited by DC magnetron sputtering and pulsed laser deposition (PLD), respectively. PZT thin films with thicknesses of 30nm and 60nm were fabricated using the pulsed metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) apparatus. PZT films deposited on the LSCO electrodes were all epitaxially grown. The residual stress measurements by XRD revealed that all PZT films received the in-plane tensile stress from the substrate or the electrode/substrate. When the Pt and LSCO electrodes were introduced between the PZT film and the STO substrate, in-plane tensile stress in PZT was enhanced. With decreasing the PZT film thickness, the in-plane tensile stress in PZT film was enhanced. Remanent polarization decreased with increasing residual tensile stress in PZT film in all cases. The change of residual stress in the PZT/LSCO/STO system was discussed on the basis of the thermal expansion coefficient of the constituent layers.
A distribution-based approach to tracking points in velocity vector fields

We address the problem of tracking points in dense vector fields. Such vector fields may come from computational fluid dynamics simulations, environmental monitoring sensors, or dense point tracking of video data. To track points in vector fields, we capture the distribution of higher-order properties (e.g., properties derived from the gradient of the velocity vector field) in a novel local descriptor called a vector spin-image. Our distribution-based approach has a number of advantages over methods that use topology analysis to track points in vector fields. The local distributions are robust to noise, adaptable to changes in the feature, and can be used to extrapolate the location of features after they have disappeared. We describe the vector spin-image data structure, the higher-order properties we record to track vector field points, and show results of tracking points in the simulated flow through a diesel engine cylinder.