Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development and Implementation of the Guiding Stars Nutrition Guidance Program

Purpose. To describe the collaborative process between a grocery retailer and a panel of nutrition experts used to develop a nutrition guidance system (Guiding Stars) that evaluates the nutrient profile of all edible products in the supermarket, and to report the results of the food and beverage ratings. Design. A collaboration between a private retailer and members of the scientific community that led to the development of a scoring algorithm used to evaluate the nutritional quality of foods and beverages. Setting/Subjects. Northeast supermarkets (n = 160). Measures. Food and beverage nutrition ratings and distribution of stars across different grocery categories. Analysis. Descriptive statistics for rating distributions were computed. T-tests were conducted to assess differences in mean nutrient values between foods with zero versus three stars or a dichotomized variable representing all foods with one to three stars. Results. All edible grocery items (n = 27,466) were evaluated, with 23.6% earning at least one star. Items receiving at least one star had lower mean levels of sodium, saturated fat, and sugars and higher amounts of fiber than products not earning stars. Conclusion. The Guiding Stars system rates edible products without regard to brand or manufacturer, and provides consumers with a simple tool to quickly identify more nutritious choices while shopping. The low percentage of products qualifying for stars reflects poorly on the food choices available to Americans.
Age or factors associated with aging attenuate testosterone's concentration-dependent enhancement of the regularity of luteinizing hormone secretion in healthy men.

BACKGROUND Healthy older men have reduced testosterone (Te) production and frequent, small irregular LH pulses. Which is cause and which is effect are not known. RATIONALE In model systems, frequent and irregular LH pulses reflect attenuated feedback inhibition by Te. HYPOTHESIS Factors associated with aging impair negative feedback by Te. SUBJECTS AND SETTING Healthy men at an academic medical center were studied. METHODS The study used quantification of the regularity of LH release patterns during blockade of gonadal steroidogenesis and graded transdermal Te addback in 18 healthy men aged 18-65 yr. RESULTS In the cohort as a whole, stepwise Te repletion repressed LH concentrations (P = 0.001) and enhanced the quantifiable orderliness of LH release patterns (P < 0.001). By regression analysis, age attenuated the capability of increasing Te concentrations to regularize LH secretion patterns (P = 0.019). However, after a fixed GnRH stimulus, the effect of Te on LH regularity was invariant of the age factor (P = 0.16), thus pointing to a hypothalamic locus of impaired Te feedback. SUMMARY Aging disrupts the capability of systemic Te concentrations to maintain orderly LH secretion under endogenous, but not exogenous, GnRH drive. CONCLUSIONS Age or factors associated with increased age reduce negative feedback by any given total Te concentration on hypothalamopituitary GnRH-LH outflow, thus contributing to disorderly LH secretion.
Tumor promoter modulation of epidermal growth factor‐ and nerve growth factor‐induced adhesion and growth factor binding of PC‐12 pheochromocytoma cells

Nerve growth factor (NGF) has previously been shown to increase the rate of adhesion of PC‐12 pheochromocytoma cells to cell culture dishes. This increase in the rate of adhesion was postulated to be important in NGF‐mediated neurite outgrowth. We now report that epidermal growth factor (EGF) is also able to increase the rate of adhesion of PC‐12 cells to cell culture dishes, but does not elicit neurite outgrowth. The dose‐response curve for EGF is bell‐shaped, in contrast to the more classically shaped dose‐response curve obtained with NGF.
Generalized Freedom to Operate

The term “freedom to operate” (FTO) describes a situation where commercial activity can be undertaken without infringing on intellectual property rights held by other parties. In current practice, FTO is established through an opinion based on patent search that a course of action is non-infringing on third party intellectual property rights, through a cross-licensing agreement between parties holding patent portfolios that might trigger infringement depending on the precise nature of a prospective commercial undertaking, acquiring patent rights, or a similar but less costly stratagem of defensive publishing (which in theory prevents others from acquiring patents). The risk of being sued for infringement of intellectual property is, however, only one of many risks faced by firms whose value depends on their intangible assets when they enter products into domestic and international markets. Trade and investment agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership seek to put in place broad protections for firms’ intangible assets. This expands their freedom to operate in a commensurately broader sense. This note explores this generalization of the concept of freedom to operate and shows how it is at the heart of the negotiating interests of the TPP parties and central to understanding how it affects the net benefits of the various parties.
A Linearization Technique for Differential OTAs

This brief presents an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) linearization technique that is applied to a low-noise amplifier (LNA) and an OTA-C filter. Simulations show the effectiveness of the proposed technique on the LNA, whose noise and gain performance remain unaffected while the linearity is significantly improved. Measurements of the 80-MHz fourth order Butterworth OTA-C filter are also presented. It is implemented using six OTAs instead of eight, thus reducing the power consumption and area. The filter is implemented in 65-nm low-power CMOS, with a core area of 0.05 mm<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$^{\boldsymbol 2}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and consumes 12.6 mA from 1.2 V supply. The measured in-band noise voltage is below 42 nV/<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mathbf {\sqrt {Hz}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, and the measured third order intercept point improvement using OTA linearization is up to 17 dB in-band and about 3 dB out-of-band. Supply and temperature variation measurements on three samples show that the linearization is effective without a need for bias adjustment.
Constitutive telomere length and gastric cancer risk: Case‐control analysis in Chinese Han population

The shortening of telomeres may result in chromosome instability and thus promote tumorigenesis. Previous studies have demonstrated clear involvement of telomere shortening in the carcinogenesis of several malignancies. However, the association between constitutive telomere shortening and gastric cancer development has yet to be established. Therefore, in the present study, we measured average telomere length using quantitative real‐time PCR in peripheral blood lymphocytes from a gastric cancer (GC) case‐control study consisting of 396 cases and 378 controls. The results showed that GC patients had significantly shorter average telomere length than matched controls (mean ± SD 0.89 ± 0.19 vs 1.06 ± 0.25, P < 0.001). We further categorized telomere length using the 50% value in the controls as a cut‐off point and assessed the association between telomere length and GC risk using multivariate logistic regression analysis. We found that short telomere length was associated with a significantly increased GC risk (adjusted odds ratio = 2.14, 95% confidence interval = 1.52–2.93). Quartile stratification revealed a dose–response relationship between telomere shortening and GC risk (P for trend < 0.001). Stratified analysis showed that sex, age, and alcohol drinking, but not smoking and Helicobacter pylori infection, seem to have a modulating effect on the average telomere length in both cases and controls. We also found that telomere shortening and smoking had a significant joint effect on GC risk. Collectively, our findings provide the first evidence linking the short telomere length in peripheral blood lymphocytes to elevated GC risk, which warrants further investigation in other populations. (Cancer Sci 2009; 100: 1300–1305)
Best Practice for Cost-of-Capital Estimates

Cost-of-capital assessments with factor models require quantitative forward-looking estimates. We recommend estimating Vasicek-shrunk betas with 1–4 years of daily stock returns and then shrinking betas a second time (and more for smaller stocks and longer-term projects), because the underlying betas are themselves time-varying. Such estimators also work well in other developed countries and for small-minus-big (SMB) and high-minus-low (HML) exposures. If own historical stock returns are not available, peer betas based on market cap should be used. Historical industry averages have almost no predictive power and should never be used.
Analysis of Brain SPECT Images Coregistered with MRI in Patients with Epilepsy: Comparison of Three Methods

SISCOM and STATISCOM were clinically proved to be effective for ictal/inter‐ictal single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) analysis coregistered with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for seizure localization. Recently, a software package also became available for this analysis. This study aimed to investigate and compare the performance of these analysis methods for seizure localization.
Reduced breathing variability as a predictor of unsuccessful patient separation from mechanical ventilation*

Objectives:To compare descriptors of the breath-to-breath respiratory variability during a 60-min spontaneous breathing trial in patients successfully and unsuccessfully separated from the ventilator and the endotracheal tube and to assess the usefulness of these predictors in discriminating these two categories of patients. Design:Prospective observational study. Setting:Four general intensive care units in university hospitals. Patients:A total of 51 consecutive patients mechanically ventilated for >24 hrs. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:Tidal volume, respiratory period, inspiratory time, expiratory time, mean inspiratory flow (tidal volume/inspiratory time), and duty cycle (inspiratory time/respiratory period) were obtained from the flow signal. Breath-by-breath variability was expressed in terms of their coefficients of variation (CV), the number of breaths among which a significant correlation was found (lag), and the autocorrelation coefficient between one breath and the following one. Five patients were excluded because of nonstationarity of the data, leaving 46 cases for analysis. Between-group comparison was conducted with the Mann-Whitney test, and a nonparametric classification and regression tree was used to identify variables discriminating “success” (n = 32) and “failure” patients (n = 14). All coefficients of variation were significantly higher in success patients, who also exhibited significantly less respiratory autocorrelation (shorter “short memory”). The classification and regression tree analysis allocated all success patients to a group defined by a coefficient of variation of tidal volume/inspiratory time of ≥19% and a coefficient of variation of inspiratory time/respiratory period of ≥10% that did not contain any failure patient. All failure patients belonged to a group with coefficient of variation of tidal volume/inspiratory time of <19%, a lag tidal volume of ≥11, and that contained no success patient. Conclusions:In intensive care unit patients undergoing a spontaneous breathing trial, breathing variability is greater in patients successfully separated from the ventilator and the endotracheal tube. Variability indices are sufficient to separate success from failure cases.
Implementation of an interleaved ZVS boost-type converter

An interleaved zero voltage switching (ZVS) converter with less component count and boost voltage conversion ratio is presented. The output voltage doubler is used on the output side to achieve the boost type of voltage conversion ratio. The proposed converter includes two active-clamping converters with common clamp capacitor to share load current. By the shared capacitor, the charge balance of two interleaved parts is automatically regulated under input voltage and load variations. The ZVS turn-on of all switching devices is achieved during the transition interval. The interleaved pulse-width modulation (PWM) operation will reduce the ripple current and the size of the output capacitor. The proposed circuit has no large output inductor such that the adopted circuit has simpler structure, lower cost and no effective duty loss. The voltage stresses on output diodes are clamped at the output voltage. The circuit configuration, operation principles and design consideration are presented. Finally experimental results based on a 425W (170V/2.5A) prototype are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed converter.
Genetic variability of human metapneumovirus isolated from chilean children, 2003–2004

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a significant cause of acute lower respiratory tract infection in all age groups, particularly in children. Two genetic groups and four subgroups of hMPV have been described. They co‐circulate during an epidemic in variable proportions. The aims were to characterize the genotypes of hMPV recovered from children hospitalized for acute lower respiratory tract infection and to establish the molecular epidemiology of strains circulating in Santiago of Chile during a 2‐year period. The detection of the N gene by reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction was carried out for screening 545 infants hospitalized for acute lower respiratory tract infection in Santiago during 2003–2004. The genetic typing of hMPV was performed by analyzing the fusion gene sequences. hMPV was detected in 10.2% (56/545 cases). Phylogenetic analysis of F gene sequences from 39 Chilean hMPV strains identified the two groups and four subgroups previously described. Strains clustered into group A were split further into the sub lineages A1, A2, and A3. Most Chilean strains clustered into the proposed novel A3 sub lineage (59%). A3 viruses were present in both years, while A1 and A2 circulated just in 1 year. In conclusion, hMPV is a relevant cause of acute lower respiratory infection in Chilean children and the potential novel cluster of group A emphasize the need for further regional genetic variability studies. J. Med. Virol. 81:340–344, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Youth in the Middle East and North Africa: Demographic opportunity or challenge?

Nearly one in five people living in the Middle East and North Africa (MEAN) region is between the ages of 15 and 24-the age group defined as "youth. " The current number of youth in the region is unprecedented: nearly 95 million in 2005. The extent to which this large group of young people will become healthy and productive members of their societies depends on how well governments and civil societies invest in social economic and political institutions that meet the current needs of young people. Ages 15 to 24 represent a period in life when one makes the transition from the dependence of childhood to the independence of adulthood-a period filled with enthusiasm dreams and ambitions. It is also a period during which a number of social economic biological and demographic events occur that set the stage for adult life such as education marriage and entrance into the job market. As the average years of education increases and marriage is delayed the transition to adulthood extends over a longer period of time making adolescence an increasingly important stage for policy attention. Despite a wealth of oil resources and major improvements in health and education over the past few decades this regions political social and economic systems have not evolved in a way that effectively meets the changing needs of its rapidly growing young population. This policy brief gives an overview of demographic trends among youth and the implications of these trends for human and economic development in the MEAN region. (excerpt)
New Cationized LDL-DNA Complexes: Their Targeted Delivery to Fibroblasts in Culture

Low density lipoproteins (LDL) have been cationized using the water-soluble carbodiimide, N-ethyl-N'-(3-trimethylpropylammonium) carbodiimide iodide at a reagent: lipoprotein mole ratio of 10 000:1. This was shown to increase the innate DNA-binding capacity of LDL 10-fold. [125 I]-labeled carbodiimide-modified LDL ([125 I])-labeled ECDI-LDL) appeared to recognize the LDL receptor on normal human skin fibroblasts, although some nonspecific binding also was detected. To demonstrate the large ionic component in the lipoprotein-DNA interactions,ε-NH 2 amino groups on the apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB-100) component of LDL were acetylated with acetic anhydride. A nitrocellulose filter-binding assay revealed that acetylated LDL bound approximately 25% of the [3 H]-labeled pBR322 plasmid DNA bound by native LDL under the same conditions. ECDI-LDL- [3 H]-labeled plasmid DNA complexes were considerably more stable to NaCl challenge than complexes formed between [3 H]-labeled plasmid DNA and native LDL. Thus, the half dissociation of ECDI-LDL containing complexes was achieved at 0.28 M NaCl, whereas for LDL-plasmid DNA complexes this was reached at 0.18 M NaCl. Displacement studies with native LDL studies showed that ECDI-LDL- [3 H]-labeled plasmid DNA complexes retained the ability to recognize the LDL receptor on normal skin fibroblasts. Finally, ECDI-LDL complexes with pSV2CAT expression plasmid were shown to transfect CV-1 fibroblasts, a cell line known to specifically recognize apoB-liposome conjugates.
Myocardial perfusion SPECT using a rotating multi-segment slant-hole collimator.

PURPOSE A rotating multi-segment slant-hole (RMSSH) collimator is able to provide much higher (approximately 3 times for four-segment collimator with 30 degrees slant angle) sensitivity than a parallel-hole (PH) collimator with the similar spatial resolution for imaging small organs such as the heart and the breast. In this article, the authors evaluated the performance of myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS) using a RMSSH collimator compared to MPS using the low-energy high-resolution parallel-hole collimators. METHODS The authors conducted computer simulation studies using the NURBS-based cardiac-torso phantom, receiver operative characteristic (ROC) analysis using the channelized Hotelling observer, physical phantom experiments, and pilot patient studies to evaluate the performance of MPS using a rotating four-segment slant-hole (R4SSH) collimator with respect to MPS using a PH collimator. RESULTS In the simulation study, the R4SSH MPS provides images with superior contrast-noise trade-off than those of PH MPS with the same acquisition time. The defect detectability in terms of the largest area under the ROC curve for R4SSH MPS is significantly higher than those of PH MPS with p-values < 0.01. In the phantom experiments, the R4SSH MPS images with 7.5 min acquisition had similar noise level and overall image quality as those of PH MPS with 21 min acquisition. Pilot patient studies showed that with the same acquisition time, the R4SSH SPECT using a single-head camera gave images with similar quality as those of PH SPECT using a dual-head camera. CONCLUSIONS The RMSSH SPECT has a potential to improve the coronary artery disease detection and workflow of SPECT imaging acquisition due to the high sensitivity property of the RMSSH collimator.
Systematic review of family and home‐based interventions targeting paediatric overweight and obesity

The family and home environment is a highly influential psychosocial antecedent of paediatric obesity. The purpose of this investigation was to systematically analyze family and home‐based randomized control trials aimed at treating overweight and obesity in children ages 2–7 years. In gathering materials for this review, a search of Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, MEDLINE, Education Resources Information Center, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection and CENTRAL databases was conducted for the time frame of January 2001 to August 2011. The data extraction spanned three phases resulting in a total of nine interventions that met the specified inclusion criteria. Among the identified studies, eight produced significant outcomes. The majority of the programmes incorporated educational sessions targeting parents as the primary modality for intervention delivery. Less than one‐quarter of the interventions included home visitations; however, all of the interventions included home‐based activities to reinforce behaviour modification. Only three of the interventions applied social and behavioural theory, and only two interventions employed process evaluation. Additional research is needed to gauge the efficacy of the home and family milieu for treating paediatric obesity.
Immunoelectron microscopic localization of sarcoplasmic reticulum proteins in cryofixed, freeze-dried, and low temperature-embedded tissue.

Immunoelectron microscopic labeling of calsequestrin on ultra-thin sections of rat ventricular muscle prepared by quick-freezing, freeze-drying, and direct embedding in Lowicryl K4M was compared to that observed on ultra-thin sections prepared by chemical fixation, dehydration in ethanol, and embedding in Lowicryl K4M. Brightfield electron microscopic imaging of cryofixed, freeze-dried, osmicated, and Spurr-embedded rat ventricular tissue showed that the sarcoplasmic reticulum was very well preserved by cryofixation and freeze-drying. Therefore, the four structurally distinct regions of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (i.e., the network SR, the junctional SR, the corbular SR, and the cisternal SR) were easily identified even when myofibrils were less than optimally preserved. As previously shown by immunoelectron microscopic labeling of ultra-thin frozen sections of chemically fixed tissue, calsequestrin was confined to the lumen of the junctional SR and of a specialized non-junctional (corbular) SR, and was absent from the lumen of network SR in cryofixed, freeze-dried, Lowicryl-embedded myocardial tissue. In addition, a considerable amount of calsequestrin was also present in the lumen of a different specialized region of the non-junctional SR, called the cisternal sarcoplasmic reticulum. By contrast, relocation of calsequestrin to the lumen of the network SR was observed to a variable degree in chemically fixed, ethanol-dehydrated, and Lowicryl-embedded tissue. We conclude that tissue preparation by cryofixation, freeze-drying, and direct embedding in Lowicryl K4M for immunoelectron microscopic localization of diffusible proteins, such as calsequestrin, is far superior to that obtained by chemical fixation, ethanol dehydration, and embedding in Lowicryl K4M.