Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tanning is associated with optimal vitamin D status (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration) and higher bone mineral density.

BACKGROUND Vitamin D is made in the skin on exposure to solar radiation, and it is necessary to optimal skeletal health. Subjects who use a tanning bed that emits ultraviolet B radiation (290-315 nm) are likely to have higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations than do subjects who do not regularly use a tanning bed. OBJECTIVE The first objective of this study was to ascertain whether subjects who regularly use a tanning bed have higher 25(OH)D concentrations than do subjects who do not use a tanning bed. The second objective was to ascertain whether higher 25(OH)D concentrations correlated positively with bone mineral density. DESIGN This cross-sectional analysis examined 50 subjects who used a tanning bed at least once a week and 106 control subjects. Each subject gave a blood specimen for measurement of serum 25(OH)D and parathyroid hormone concentrations. Each subject underwent bone mineral density testing of the hip and spine. RESULTS Subjects who used a tanning bed had serum 25(OH)D concentrations 90% higher than those of control subjects (115.5 +/- 8.0 and 60.3 +/- 3.0 nmol/L, respectively; P <0.001). Subjects who used a tanning bed had parathyroid hormone concentrations 18% lower than those of control subjects (21.4 +/- 1.0 and 25.3 +/- 0.8 pg/mL, respectively; P=0.01). Tanners had significantly higher BMD and z scores at the total hip than did nontanners. CONCLUSION The regular use of a tanning bed that emits vitamin D-producing ultraviolet radiation is associated with higher 25(OH)D concentrations and thus may have a benefit for the skeleton.
Benefits of Flexible Prioritization in Working Memory Can Arise Without Costs

Most recent models conceptualize working memory (WM) as a continuous resource, divided up according to task demands. When an increasing number of items need to be remembered, each item receives a smaller chunk of the memory resource. These models predict that the allocation of attention to high-priority WM items during the retention interval should be a zero-sum game: improvements in remembering cued items come at the expense of uncued items because resources are dynamically transferred from uncued to cued representations. The current study provides empirical data challenging this model. Four precision retrocueing WM experiments assessed cued and uncued items on every trial. This permitted a test for trade-off of the memory resource. We found no evidence for trade-offs in memory across trials. Moreover, robust improvements in WM performance for cued items came at little or no cost to uncued items that were probed afterward, thereby increasing the net capacity of WM relative to neutral cueing conditions. An alternative mechanism of prioritization proposes that cued items are transferred into a privileged state within a response-gating bottleneck, in which an item uniquely controls upcoming behavior. We found evidence consistent with this alternative. When an uncued item was probed first, report of its orientation was biased away from the cued orientation to be subsequently reported. We interpret this bias as competition for behavioral control in the output-driving bottleneck. Other items in WM did not bias each other, making this result difficult to explain with a shared resource model.
Soy protein intake by perimenopausal women does not affect circulating lipids and lipoproteins or coagulation and fibrinolytic factors.

Soy protein favorably alters serum lipids and lipoproteins in hypercholesterolemic individuals, thereby reducing cardiovascular disease risk. The primary purpose was to determine the effect of soy protein (40 g/d) on circulating lipids and lipoproteins or coagulation and fibrinolytic factors in normocholesterolemic and mildly hypercholesterolemic perimenopausal women. We also determined the contribution of coagulation and fibrinolytic and other factors (e.g., body size and composition; serum estrogens, ferritin, iron; dietary intake) to lipid profiles. Subjects were randomly assigned to treatment: isoflavone-rich soy (n = 24), isoflavone-poor soy (n = 24), or whey control (n = 21) protein. We measured circulating lipids and lipoproteins at baseline, wk 12 and wk 24, and coagulation/fibrinolytic factors at baseline and wk 24. Coagulation and fibrinolytic factors were not adversely affected by treatment. Treatment did not alter lipid profiles in mildly hypercholesterolemic (n = 30) or in all subjects combined. Time significantly (P < 0.001) affected serum total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol concentrations. We could not attribute changes over time to various factors, but at baseline accounted for 57% of the variability in HDL cholesterol (P < or = 0.0001) and for 50% in the total to HDL cholesterol ratio (P < or = 0.0001). Dietary vitamin E and % energy from fat had positive effects, whereas plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, fibrinogen, body weight and serum ferritin had negative effects on HDL and total to HDL cholesterol. Isoflavone-rich or isoflavone-poor soy protein had no effect on lipid profiles or coagulation and fibrinolytic factors, whereas the effect of time suggested that the hormonal milieu during the menopausal transition may have overridden any detectable treatment effect on lipids. The relationship between coagulation factors and serum lipids should be examined further as indices of cardiovascular disease risk in midlife women.
miRNA in Circulating Microvesicles as Biomarkers for Age-Related Cognitive Decline

Community dwelling older individuals from the North Florida region were examined for health status and a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), was performed on each participant. A subpopulation (58 females and 39 males) met the criteria for age (60–89) and no evidence of mild cognitive impairment, with a MoCA score ≥23. Despite the stringent criteria for participation, MoCA scores were negatively correlated within the limited age range. Extracellular microvesicles were isolated from the plasma and samples were found to be positive for the exosome marker CD63, with an enrichment of particles within the size range for exosomes. miRNA was extracted and examined using next generation sequencing with a stringent criterion (average of ≥10 counts per million reads) resulting in 117 miRNA for subsequent analysis. Characterization of expression confirmed pervious work concerning the relative abundance and overall pattern of expression of miRNA in plasma. Correlation analysis indicated that most of the miRNAs (74 miRNAs) were positively correlated with age (p <0.01). Multiple regression was employed to identify the relationship of miRNA expression and MoCA score, accounting for age. MoCA scores were negatively correlated with 13 miRNAs. The pattern of expression for cognition-related miRNA did not match that previously described for Alzheimer’s disease. Enrichment analysis was employed to identify miRNA–gene interactions to reveal possible links to brain function.
A study of roles of different valence of copper oxide interaction with electron beam irradiation in polyethylene composite

The aim of this research was to investigate the interaction of electron beam irradiation on the different valence of copper (I) and copper (II) oxides (Cu2O and CuO) added low-density polyethylene (LDPE) composites. The results showed the increasing of Cu2O loading level in replacing the CuO has significantly reduced the gel content (or degree of cross-linking networks) in LDPE matrix. This is due to the poorer effect of Cu2O in inducing the polymeric free radicals. Meanwhile, the application of low irradiation dosage (≤100 kGy) has significantly increased the crystallite size for crystallite peak (110) of all LDPE composites. However, further increment in irradiation dosages from 100 to 300 kGy has gradually reduced the crystallite size of deflection peak (110). The tensile strength of all LDPE composites was gradually decreased with increasing of Cu2O loading level due to agglomeration of Cu2O and CuO particles in LDPE matrix. In addition, the increasing of irradiation dosages on all Cu2O /CuO added LDPE composites has gradually increased the tensile strength by inducing the formation of the cross-linking networks in LDPE matrix. Nevertheless, the increasing of irradiation dosage has gradually decreased the elongation at break of all Cu2O /CuO added LDPE composites. This is due to the higher degree of cross-linking networks in LDPE matrix could restrict the mobility of LDPE macromolecular chains when subjected to straining stress.
Longitudinal changes in energy expenditure in girls from late childhood through midadolescence.

BACKGROUND Longitudinal data on energy expenditure in children and adolescents are scarce. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine changes in energy expenditure and physical activity in girls from late childhood through midadolescence. DESIGN We measured total energy expenditure (TEE) by doubly labeled water, resting metabolic rate (RMR) by indirect calorimetry, body composition by 18O dilution, and time spent in activity by an activity diary in 28 initially nonobese girls at approximately 10, approximately 12, and approximately 15 y of age. Changes with age in TEE, RMR, and activity energy expenditure (AEE), both in absolute terms and in adjusted analyses, and in physical activity level (PAL) and time spent sleeping, being sedentary, and in moderate and vigorous activity were evaluated by mixed-model repeated-measures analyses. RESULTS Absolute TEE and AEE increased significantly from age 10 to age 15 y (P < 0.0001 for both). Absolute RMR at ages 12 and 15 y did not differ significantly, despite significant increases in fat-free mass and fat mass between the visits. PAL was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) at age 15 y than at age 10 or 12 y, whereas time spent being sedentary increased significantly from age 10 to age 15 y (P < 0.001), and AEE adjusted for fat-free mass appeared to decrease over the same interval. CONCLUSION Conclusions drawn regarding changes with age in physical activity depend on the measure of physical activity assessed.
Comparison of the effects of fish and fish-oil capsules on the n 3 fatty acid content of blood cells and plasma phospholipids.

BACKGROUND n-3 Fatty acids (FAs) have been shown to be beneficial for cardiovascular health. Whether n-3 FAs from oily fish consumed weekly or from fish-oil capsules taken daily are equally bioavailable is not clear. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to compare the rate and extent of enrichment of blood cell membranes [ie, red blood cells (RBCs)] and plasma phospholipids with n-3 FAs from these 2 sources. DESIGN Healthy premenopausal female volunteers were randomly assigned to consume a daily average of 485 mg eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids either from 2 servings of oily fish (ie, salmon and albacore tuna) per week or from 1-2 capsules/d. RESULTS After 16 wk, EPA+DHA in RBCs in the fish group (n = 11) increased from 4.0 +/- 0.6% of total FAs to 6.2 +/- 1.4%, whereas it rose from 4.3 +/- 1.0% to 6.2 +/- 1.4% in the capsule group (P < 0.0001 for both; NS for group effect). Similar results were observed in plasma phospholipids. EPA+DHA stabilized in the latter after 4 wk but continued to rise through week 16 in RBCs. EPA in RBCs increased significantly (P = 0.01) more rapidly in the fish group than in the capsule group during the first 4 wk, but rates did not differ significantly between groups thereafter. Total FA variances were less in RBCs than in plasma phospholipids (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION These findings suggest that the consumption of equal amounts of EPA and DHA from oily fish on a weekly basis or from fish-oil capsules on a daily basis is equally effective at enriching blood lipids with n-3 FAs.
Designs and performance of three new microprocessor-controlled knee joints

Abstract A crossover design study with a small group of subjects was used to evaluate the performance of three microprocessor-controlled exoprosthetic knee joints (MPKs): C-Leg 4, Plié 3 and Rheo Knee 3. Given that the mechanical designs and control algorithms of the joints determine the user outcome, the influence of these inherent differences on the functional characteristics was investigated in this study. The knee joints were evaluated during level-ground walking at different velocities in a motion analysis laboratory. Additionally, technical analyses using patents, technical documentations and X-ray computed tomography (CT) for each knee joint were performed. The technical analyses showed that only C-Leg 4 and Rheo Knee 3 allow microprocessor-controlled adaptation of the joint resistances for different gait velocities. Furthermore, Plié 3 is not able to provide stance extension damping. The biomechanical results showed that only if a knee joint adapts flexion and extension resistances by the microprocessor all known advantages of MPKs can become apparent. But not all users may benefit from the examined functions: e.g. a good accommodation to fast walking speeds or comfortable stance phase flexion. Hence, a detailed comparison of user demands and performance of the designated knee joint is mandatory to ensure a maximum in user outcome.
Detection of linear features in SAR images: application to road network extraction

The authors propose a two-step algorithm for almost unsupervised detection of linear structures, in particular, main axes in road networks, as seen in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. The first step is local and is used to extract linear features from the speckle radar image, which are treated as road-segment candidates. The authors present two local line detectors as well as a method for fusing information from these detectors. In the second global step, they identify the real roads among the segment candidates by defining a Markov random field (MRF) on a set of segments, which introduces contextual knowledge about the shape of road objects. The influence of the parameters on the road detection is studied and results are presented for various real radar images.
Efficacy and safety of intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in mild ischaemic stroke: a meta-analysis

The benefits and safety of intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV-tPA) for patients with mild ischaemic stroke (MIS) are still unclear. The objective of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of IV-tPA as treatment for patients with MIS. We performed a systematic literature search across MEDLINE, Embase, Central, Global Health and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) , from inception to 10 November 2016, to identify all related studies. Where possible, data were pooled for meta-analysis with odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) using the fixed-effects model. MIS was defined as having National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of ≤6. We included seven studies with a total of 1591 patients based on the prespecified inclusion and exclusion criteria. The meta-analysis indicated a high odds of excellent functional outcome based on the modified Rankin Scale or Oxfordshire Handicap Score 0–1 (OR=1.43; 95% CI 1.14 to 1.79; P=0.002, I2=35%) in patients treated with IV-tPA compared with those not treated with IV-tPA (74.8% vs 67.6%). There was a high risk of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (sICH) with IV-tPA treatment (OR=10.13; 95% CI 1.93 to 53.02; P=0.006, I2=0%) (1.9% vs 0.0%) but not mortality (OR=0.78; 95% CI 0.43 to 1.43; P=0.43, I2=0%) (2.4% vs 2.9%). Treatment with IV-tPA was associated with better functional outcome but not mortality among patients with MIS, although there was an increased risk of sICH. Randomised trials are warranted to confirm these findings.
Time spent being sedentary and weight gain in healthy adults: reverse or bidirectional causality?

BACKGROUND Whether obesity is a cause or a consequence of a sedentary lifestyle has not yet been fully elucidated, which leaves uncertainty about the direction of causality. OBJECTIVE We aimed to assess the longitudinal associations between objectively measured time spent being sedentary (sedentary time) and obesity indicators. DESIGN The study was a prospective, population-based cohort study in 393 middle-aged healthy whites (n = 176 M, 217 F). Sedentary time (% of daytime hours) was measured by individually calibrated monitoring of the heart rate. Body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC) were assessed by standard clinical procedures. Fat mass (FM) was assessed with bioimpedance. All measurements were collected at baseline and at 5.6-y follow-up. RESULTS At baseline, sedentary time was significantly correlated with FM (partial r = 0.10, P = 0.043) and WC (partial r = 0.11, P = 0.027) after adjustment for sex and age. At follow-up, sedentary time was significantly correlated with BW (partial r = 0.19, P < 0.0001), BMI (partial r = 0.20, P < 0.0001), WC (partial r = 0.15, P = 0.003), and FM (partial r = 0.19, P < 0.0001). Sedentary time did not predict any of the obesity indicators at follow-up. In contrast, BW (beta = 0.33; 95% CI: 0.15, 0.50), BMI (1.10; 0.58, 1.63), FM (0.59; 0.11, 0.40), and WC (0.44; 0.23, 0.66) predicted sedentary time at follow-up after adjustment for sex, baseline age, baseline sedentary time, baseline physical activity energy expenditure, and follow-up time. CONCLUSION BMI, FM, and WC may predict sedentary time, but our results do not suggest that sedentary time predicts future obesity.
Genetic and environmental determination of tracking in subcutaneous fat distribution during adolescence.

BACKGROUND The distribution of fat and adipose tissue is an important predictor of disease risk. Variation in fat distribution during adolescence is correlated with fat distribution in adulthood. OBJECTIVE The objective was to gain insight into the relative contribution of genes and environment to the stability of subcutaneous fat distribution from early adolescence into young adulthood. DESIGN Ratio of trunk to extremity skinfold thickness (TER) data from the Leuven Longitudinal Twin Study (n = 105 Belgian twin pairs followed from 10 to 18 y of age) was entered into a longitudinal path analysis. RESULTS The best-fitting model included additive genetic sources of variance and nonshared environment. Heritabilities ranged between 84.3% (95% CI: 63.9-92.3%) and 88.6% (95% CI: 76.5-94.1%) in boys and between 78.4% (95% CI: 59.3-88.3%) and 88.3% (95% CI: 77.0-93.8%) in girls. The majority of the phenotypic tracking (boys: 0.40-0.78; girls: 0.38-0.72) could be attributed to the moderate-to-high genetic correlations (rG) (between 0.27-0.84 and 0.38-0.80 for the various age intervals in boys and girls, respectively). This rG could be attributed to both genetic sources of variance, which are the same throughout adolescence, as well as genetic sources of variance that are "switched-on" at a certain age, the effect of which is then transmitted to subsequent observations. Environmental correlations (rE) in boys ranged between 0.51 and 0.70 but contributed relatively little to phenotypic tracking because the amount of variance explained by the environment was low (11.4-15.7%). In girls rE was low to moderate at best (0.09-0.48). CONCLUSION Phenotypic tracking in subcutaneous fat distribution during adolescence is predominantly explained by additive genetic sources of variance.
Dietary patterns and C-reactive protein in Japanese men and women.

BACKGROUND Inflammation may be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cancer. Many studies have reported the relation of specific foods and nutrients to inflammation, but few studies have examined the relation of dietary patterns to inflammatory markers. OBJECTIVE We investigated the relation between dietary patterns and circulating high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in Japanese men and women. DESIGN The subjects were participants in the baseline survey of an ongoing cohort study of lifestyle-related diseases between February 2004 and July 2006. We excluded persons with life-limiting or possible inflammation-related diseases and those using analgesics. After further exclusion of subjects with a CRP concentration > 3 mg/L, 7802 subjects remained in the analysis. The dietary patterns were derived from principal component analysis of the frequency of consumption of 49 food items ascertained by the food-frequency questionnaire. RESULTS We identified 4 dietary patterns: healthy, high-fat, seafood, and Westernized breakfast patterns. The healthy dietary pattern, characterized by high intakes of vegetables, fruit, soy products, and fish, was significantly and inversely related to hs-CRP concentrations, even after adjustment for age, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity in both men and women. Although hs-CRP concentrations were slightly elevated in persons with a high score for the seafood pattern, multivariate-adjusted means did not show a significant trend. Neither the high-fat dietary pattern nor the Westernized breakfast pattern was related to hs-CRP concentrations. CONCLUSION The healthy dietary pattern may be related to suppression of inflammation.
Lutein, zeaxanthin, macular pigment, and visual function in adult cystic fibrosis patients.

BACKGROUND Pancreatic insufficiency in cystic fibrosis (CF), even with replacement pancreatic enzyme therapy, is often associated with decreased carotenoid absorption. Because the macular pigment of the retina is largely derived from 2 carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, the decreased serum concentrations seen in CF may have consequences for ocular and retinal health OBJECTIVES Our aims were to determine plasma carotenoid concentrations, determine absorption and distribution of macular pigment, and assess retinal health and visual function in CF patients. DESIGN In 10 adult CF patients (ages 21-47 y) and 10 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects, we measured macular pigment density in vivo, measured serum lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations, and comprehensively assessed visual performance (including contrast sensitivity, color discrimination, and retinal function) under conditions of daylight illumination. RESULTS Serum lutein and zeaxanthin were significantly reduced (P < 0.005) in CF patients ( +/- SD: 87 +/- 36.1 and 27 +/- 15.8 nmol/L, respectively) compared with control subjects (190 +/- 72.1 and 75 +/- 23.6 nmol/L, respectively). Although macular pigment optical density was significantly lower (P < 0.0001) in the CF group (0.24 +/- 0.11) than in the control group (0.53 +/- 0.12), no significant differences in visual function were observed. CONCLUSIONS Adults with CF have dramatically low serum and macular concentrations of carotenoids (lutein and zeaxanthin), but their ocular status and visual function are surprisingly good. The clinical implications of low plasma concentrations of carotenoids in CF are yet to be clarified.
Infants are superior in implicit crossmodal learning and use other learning mechanisms than adults

While adults have to continuously adapt their internal representations of the sensory world, infants need to first acquire these models. We used event-related potentials to test the hypothesis that infants extract crossmodal statistics implicitly while adults learn them when task relevant. Six-month-old infants and adults were passively exposed to frequent standard audio-visual combinations (A1V1, A2V2, p=0.35 each), rare recombinations of the standard stimuli (A1V2, A2V1, p=0.10 each), and a rare deviant audio-visual combination with an infrequent auditory and visual element (A3V3, p=0.10). While both infants and adults differentiated between rare deviants and standards at early processing stages, only infants discriminated standards from recombined stimuli at a later processing stage. A second experiment revealed that adults discriminated recombined from standard combinations only when crossmodal combinations were task relevant. These results demonstrate a heightened sensitivity for crossmodal statistics in infants and a change in learning mode from infancy to adulthood.