Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validation of a pre-coded food diary with energy expenditure, comparison of under-reporters v. acceptable reporters

The objective of the present study was to compare energy intake (EI) assessed from a pre-coded food diary (PFD) with energy expenditure (EE) measured by a validated position-and-movement monitor (ActiReg®; PreMed AS, Oslo, Norway) in a group of Norwegian 9-year-olds. Moreover, we examined whether and how under-reporters (UR), identified with ActiReg®, differed from acceptable reporters (AR) according to food intake and BMI. A total of fifty-one 9-year-olds completed PFD and ActiReg®. The present study showed that on average EI was underestimated by 18 % compared with EE measured by ActiReg®. The 95 % confidence limits of agreement in a Bland–Altman plot for EI and EE varied from 1·97 MJ to −4·23 MJ (sd 2) among the girls and from 0·74 MJ to −5·26 MJ (sd 2) among the boys. The Pearson correlation coefficient between EI and EE was 0·28 (P=0·05) for males and females combined. Fifty-seven per cent of the participants were classified as AR, 39 % as UR and 4 % as over-reporters with the PFD. Under-reporting of energy remains a problem with the PFD method used in a group of 9-year-olds, especially among boys. However, UR and AR did not show a systematic misreporting related to macronutrients, unhealthy foods or BMI.
The Potential Contribution of the Intended High School Curriculum at Exit Level to the Entrepreneurship Education of South African Youth

The highest unemployment rates recorded in South Africa since 2003 were announced in November 2016. Youth unemployment is still higher than the national average, adding to the conundrum. Government officials have long been mentioning entrepreneurship education as a potential contributor to addressing this challenge, but it seems like progress is slow. One instrument that could contribute to addressing youth unemployment is the national school curriculum, in the form of entrepreneurship education. The South African school curriculum has, however, undergone several changes in recent years and up-to-date analysis of the current curriculum is scarce. As no distinct entrepreneurship subject exists in the curriculum, a scaffold qualitative document analysis was launched to investigate how and to what extent entrepreneurship education is included in the intended high school curriculum of South Africa. Based on the findings and conclusions of the research, recommendations were made to improve the potential of the current high school curriculum to contribute to youth entrepreneurship education. These recommendations will be presented to authorities in the Department of Basic Education for consideration in subsequent curriculum upgrades, to bolster entrepreneurship education as part of formal schooling in South Africa.
Comparative evaluation of radiographic and functional outcomes in the surgical treatment of scaphoid non-unions.

OBJECTIVE The aim of our study was to evaluate the correlation between the radiological signs of union and functional outcomes in patients with surgically treated scaphoid non-unions. METHODS In our study, we evaluated 13 patients who underwent surgery at our clinic for complaints resulting from an unhealed scaphoid fracture. Of the scaphoid non-unions, 9 were on the scaphoid body and 4 were on the proximal pole. According to Slade's classification system, there were two Grade 4, eight Grade 5, and three Grade 6 fractures. The patients were all male with a mean age of 31, with 25 months of mean time between the onset of trauma and surgery. All fractures were treated through open reduction with autogenous bone grafting (cancellous in 4 cases; corticocancellous in 9 cases) and fixation with compression screws. Bone morphology and carpal alignment were assessed through radiography, using the scaphoid index and scapholunate angle measurements, respectively. Range of motion and grip strength measurements together with the modified Mayo wrist scores were used in the assessment of wrist functionality. RESULTS Average duration of follow-up was 16 months. In 10 patients, radiological union was attained in a mean time of 12.4 weeks following the operation. There was a substantial improvement in grip strength and range of motion values after surgery. The preoperative mean modified Mayo wrist score of 41.5 improved to 79.2 postoperatively. Accordingly, 4 patients had perfect, 2 had good, 5 had fair and 2 had poor results. The surgical treatment allowed the preoperative mean scapholunate angle of 45.8° and the preoperative mean scaphoid index of 0.69 to be reduced to 32° and 0.6, respectively. The humpback deformity present in 11 patients before the surgery was restored in 10 patients by reconstruction of the scaphoid bone length. Abnormal carpal alignment was restored in 4 of these patients. No statistically significant correlation was found between the functional results and the surgically attained structural restorations and union process. CONCLUSION The surgical treatment of scaphoid fracture non-unions can correct bone morphology and resolve alignment problems but might not be sufficient for the improvement of functional results.
Socio-cultural Factors influencing livestock investment decisions among Smallholder Farmers in Mbulu and Bariadi Districts, Tanzania

Several different actors are involved in making sure smallholder farmers are motivated to commit funds in expectation of future returns (investment decisions) from useful domesticated animals (livestock). However, efforts by the government, international organizations and the private sector have not been able to significantly increase trade trends in Tanzania’s livestock which explains that there could be a lot more reasons for that. This manuscript assesses the socio-cultural factors (SCFs) influencing livestock investment decisions among smallholder farmers in Mbulu and Bariadi districts in Tanzania. A cross-sectional research design was employed where a sample of 333 respondents and 9 key informants were interviewed. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire and a key informant checklist. A binary logistic regression model (BLRM) was used to analyse the relationship between SCFs and livestock investment decisions. Results show that store of wealth is the most influencing factor followed by prestige, bride prices, ethnicity and number of children (significant at p < 0.05) to household livestock investment decisions. The study generally concludes that smallholder farmers consider their cultural perspectives before they decide on livestock management styles and that blending the SCFs and other factors could secure more livestock investments.
An enhanced Proportional Fair algorithm to provide QoS over a shared wireless link

Proportional fair (PF) scheduling algorithm selects a user according to the ratio between the user current channel rate and the user average channel rate, which provides a good performance in terms of fairness. However, PF scheduler can not guarantee a quality of service (QoS) requirement be achieved. Moreover, if a variable bit rate (VBR) traffic is considered under different channel conditions for each user, PF scheduler performance will decrease. In this work, we propose an enhanced PF scheduling algorithm to select multiple data users with packet delays not exceeding given threshold with high probability according to the user input traffic characteristics, user current channel condition, user average channel rate and user QoS requirement. We consider the well-known effective bandwidth expression, which takes into account the user QoS requirement and the user input traffic characteristics, to select a user to be scheduled. Properties of the proposed scheduling algorithm are investigated through simulations with VBR flows and performance comparisons with PF scheduler. The results show a better performance of the proposed scheduler compared with PF scheduler.
Admission fibrinolytic profile predicts clot lysis resistance in stroke patients treated with tissue plasminogen activator

Summary Endogenous fibrinolysis inhibitors may be involved in t-PA resistance, decreasing stroke thrombolysis beneficts. We aim to determine the impact of pretreatment levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), lipoprotein(a), thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) and homocysteine on arterial recanalization and outcome. Forty-four consecutive patients with acute proximal middle cerebral artery occlusion were studied, including assessment of transcraneal Doppler artery patency. The neurological status was determined by NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and long-term outcome with modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Patients who recanalized after t-PA infusion had lower PAI-1 levels than those who remained occluded. Similarly, patients who achieved dramatic clinical recovery at 12 hours exhibited significantly lower PAI-1 levels as those independent (mRS≤2) at third month. We observed a trend towards lower lipoprotein p(a) in patients who achieved recanalization at 1 hour, whereas no relation was found between TAFI or homocysteine levels and recanalization. After a regression model was applied the only independent predictor of thrombolysis resistance was baseline PAI-1≤34 ng/ml, such that high PAI-1 levels interfere with tPA-induced recanalization in stroke, predicting a higher susceptibility towards clot-lysis resistance and poor outcome.
Properties of electroporation-mediated DNA transfer in Escherichia coli.

Efficient and reproducible DNA-transfection was attained in E. coli, by electroporation. The yield of the transfectants was affected by pretreatment of the recipient cells as well as by the composition of the electroporation medium. Using a single pulse procedure, relationships among the electrical parameters, the transfection efficiency, and the cellular viability were investigated in 10 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.5) containing 5% sucrose. Certain sodium salts (e.g., citrate, phosphate, and sulfate) were promotive, whereas Mg2+, DEAE-dextran, and polyvinylpyrrolidone were inhibitory to the transfection. Heterologous nucleic acids (native DNA, denatured DNA, and tRNA) exerted only a marginal effect on transfection with a viral replicative-form DNA. The efficiency of DNA transfer was affected by culture conditions, and bacteria grown at a higher temperature were more competent. The electroporation system was more efficient than an improved CaCl2 method, not only in transfection with viral single- and double-stranded DNAs, but also in transformation with plasmid DNAs.
Bi-directional power architectures for electric vehicles

Although electric vehicles (EVs) and plug in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) yield significant gains in driving efficiency and CO2 reduction, the value of these systems are diminished by the cost of the battery subsystem. To offset the cost of electric vehicles, this paper presents two bi-directional charging architectures that use the batteries from electric vehicles for grid ancillary and facility level services. Grid-scale frequency regulation with Vehicle to Grid (V2G) technology and facility peak demand reduction with Vehicle to Base technology (V2B) for military bases, commonly known as Vehicle to Building for commercial applications, are shown as promising potential avenues to make the economics of electric vehicles viable. To effectively analyze the benefit of either technology, the cost of battery cycle life lost and bi-directional inverter purchase are quantified as the main costs of the services. The revenues or savings from using the battery in either scenario are calculated using real utility usage data and rates for three utilities and typical military installations. The optimum V2B vehicle fleet sizes for cars and trucks are derived from these models. V2B operations are sized to offset the transient peak demands in facility electrical loads, while V2G operations make use of contracted frequency regulation with the local grid. The results show that both V2B and V2G can offset a large part of the cost premium of electric vehicles. These services, combined with the enhanced driving efficiency of electricity over liquid fuel, make the life cycle cost of the electric vehicles attractive compared to conventional ones. V2B and V2G can be implemented separately or in combination to greatly improve the economics of electric vehicles in the near future. The magnitude of benefits of either make electric vehicles more attractive to early buyers, and present an opportunity to push the technology into production quantities sufficient to drive the price of electric vehicles down to a level that is economically feasible for the general population.
Impact of dysphagia on quality‐of‐life in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Little is known about dysphagia or quality of life (QOL) in patients treated for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The aim of this study was to determine the impact of dysphagia on QOL in patients treated for NPC as measured by two standard tools, the University of Washington Quality‐of‐Life Questionnaire1 (UW‐QOL) and the Swallow Quality‐of‐Life Questionnaire3 (SWAL‐QOL).
Fiscal Decentralization, Budget Discipline, and Local Finance Reform in Russia’s Regions

Using a panel of Russian regions, we estimate the link between intraregional fiscal decentralization and regional budget deficits. Although Russia’s regions are not as autonomous (either politically or fiscally) as regions in some other federal states, we obtain robust and statistically and economically significant results. Specifically, expenditure decentralization has a positive effect on consolidated regional budget balances, while transfer dependence of municipalities is associated with higher deficits. The impact of revenue decentralization depends on whether a regional government can use its tax revenue assignments with the same high degree of discretion that generally characterizes explicit fiscal transfers. We show that a 2009 local finance reform that limited the discretion of regional governments to assign regional tax revenue to municipalities has changed the effect of tax decentralization on budget discipline.
Single nucleotide polymorphism in DNA methyltransferase 3B promoter and its association with gastric cardiac adenocarcinoma in North China.

AIM To investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in promoter of the DNA methyltransferase 3B (DNMT3B) gene and risk for development and lymphatic metastasis of gastric cardiac adenocarcinoma (GCA). METHODS The hospital based case-control study included 212 GCA patients and 294 control subjects without overt cancer. The DNMT3B SNP was genotyped by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. RESULTS The C/C genotype was not detected in both GCA patients and controls. In control subjects, the frequency of T/T and C/T genotypes was 94.9% and 5.1% respectively, and that of T and C alleles was 97.4% and 2.6%, respectively. The genotype and allelotype distribution in the GCA patients was not significantly different from that in controls (P=0.34 and 0.33, respectively). When stratified by smoking status and family history of upper gastrointestinal cancer, significant difference in the genotype distribution was not observed between GCA patients and controls. The distribution of DNMT3B genotypes in GCA patients with or without lymphatic metastasis did not show significant difference (P=0.42). CONCLUSION The distribution of DNMT3B SNP in North China is distinct from that in Caucasians. Although this SNP has been associated with susceptibility to lung, head, neck and breast cancer, it may not be used as a stratification marker to predict susceptibility and lymphatic metastasis of GCA, at least in the population of North China.
Energy Drink Consumption Practices of Young People in Bahrain

Background: Energy drink (ED) consumption is becoming increasingly popular among young Bahrainis, who may be unaware of the health risks associated with ED consumption. To date, there have been few publications on the consumption of ED in Bahrain, particularly among adolescents. This study seeks to fill a gap in the literature on energy drink consumption practices of Bahraini adolescents. Methods: Data were collected using a previously established European Food Safety Authority questionnaire. Cross-sectional analyses were conducted on a convenience sample of 262 Bahraini students aged 10 to 18 years. Results: Most participants consumed energy drinks 2 to 3 times per week and consumed two or more cans at a time. Eighty percent of partcipants preferred energy drinks with sugar. Participants in the older age group and higher educational level consumed more ED. The majority (57%) consumed ED at home with friends as part of socialization. Notably, 60% of the parents of the respondents have not consumed energy drinks. Prominent reasons for consumption of energy drinks included: taste (40%), energy (30%), stay awake (13%), augment concentration (4%), and enhance sports performance (6%). Conclusion: Energy drink consumption is a popular socialization activity among adolescents of Bahrain. The potential health risks necessitates the need for novel health promotion strategies and advocacy efforts for healthy hydration practices.
Composite 3D printed scaffold with structured electrospun nanofibers promotes chondrocyte adhesion and infiltration

ABSTRACT Additive manufacturing, also called 3D printing, is an effective method for preparing scaffolds with defined structure and porosity. The disadvantage of the technique is the excessive smoothness of the printed fibers, which does not support cell adhesion. In the present study, a 3D printed scaffold was combined with electrospun classic or structured nanofibers to promote cell adhesion. Structured nanofibers were used to improve the infiltration of cells into the scaffold. Electrospun layers were connected to 3D printed fibers by gluing, thus enabling the fabrication of scaffolds with unlimited thickness. The composite 3D printed/nanofibrous scaffolds were seeded with primary chondrocytes and tested in vitro for cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. The experiment showed excellent cell infiltration, viability, and good cell proliferation. On the other hand, partial chondrocyte dedifferentiation was shown. Other materials supporting chondrogenic differentiation will be investigated in future studies.
Four decades of transition to first marriage in China: Economic reform and persisting marriage norms

This study draws on three waves (2012, 2013, and 2015) of pooled data from the China General Social Survey to examine two major dimensions of the transition to first marriage among four cohorts of youths, i.e., the transition tempos and the homogamy patterns. Key findings include: (1) There is no evidence of systematic delays in family formation among cohorts coming of age after reform, albeit moderate cross-cohort heterogeneity. Two cohorts are identified for their unique trajectories: The Cultural Revolution cohort with a relatively protracted transition process and the late reform cohort with a rather condensed marriage formation pattern, (2) respondents who belong to older cohorts, who are men, who have received higher education and hold urban hukou have lower risk in entering first marriage by a certain age, and (3) I recorded steady growing strengths of homogamy over cohorts, with the Ф parameters rising from 0.42 for the Cultural Revolution cohort to 0.56 for the late reform cohort. The overall message is that four decades of rapid economic development in post-reform China have failed to weaken persisting marriage norms and practices among young people, contrary to well-documented empirical evidence from many other national contexts. I ruminate on potential institutional and cultural mechanisms underlying such an intriguing phenomenon.
Design Methodology For Optimizing Gate Driven ESD Protection Circuits In Submicron Cmos Processes

This report describes the design methodology for gate driven NMOS ESD protection in submicron CMOS processes. A new PNP Driven NMOS (PDNMOS) protection scheme has been presented. Without requiring any additional process steps or introducing any additional impedance in signal path, the PDNMOS is effective even for small analog/mixed-signal designs. SPICE simulation is used to optimize the design. High ESD performance of PDNMOS protection in both non-silicided and silicided submicron processes has been demonstrated.
Postischemic Inflammatory Response in an Auxiliary Liver Graft Predicts Renal Graft Outcome in Sensitized Patients

Background. The liver is considered a tolerogenic organ that favors the induction of peripheral tolerance and protects other organs from the same donor from rejection. This has been exploited in combined auxiliary liver-kidney transplantation, where a renal graft is transplanted against a positive crossmatch under the protection of a liver transplanted from the same donor. Methods. To elucidate mechanisms behind the liver protective effect, we studied early transcriptional changes of inflammatory mediators in the grafts during combined auxiliary liver-kidney transplantation using microarrays and real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results were correlated to clinical data. Results. Liver and kidney grafts both exhibited an upregulation of the leukocyte-recruiting chemokines CCL2, CCL3, and CCL4. Notably, liver grafts strongly upregulated CCL20, a dendritic cell, and T-cell recruiting chemokine. By comparing the gene expression in liver grafts with the clinical outcome, we found that 14 of 45 investigated inflammatory genes were expressed significantly higher in patients without early rejection when compared with those with early rejections. This included the above-mentioned chemokines and the T-cell-recruiting CX3CL1, NFKB1, and the tolerance-inducing gene indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. Conclusions. In this study, the protective role of the liver was associated with a proinflammatory reaction within this organ after ischemia-reperfusion. In particular, we found an increased expression of leukocyte-recruiting chemokines in patients without rejection, indicating a protective role of host inflammatory cells infiltrating the auxiliary liver graft in presensitized patients. Second, gene expression profiling of transplant biopsies shortly after reperfusion predicted the risk of early rejection in these patients.
V-band receiver for commercial space applications

For the V-band uplink section of the new V/Q band payload Low-Noise Receivers are required to down convert the high frequency signal to a more usable intermediate frequency (IF). This may be known as satellite downlink IF (i.e. 17.2 GHz to 20.2 GHz) or another IF taking into consideration spurious performance and lower loss properties for routing the signal through the payload. This paper will describe the latest development of a V-band space-qualified receiver for use in these payload systems. This will include design, fabrication, and test results on this receiver. Although other efforts are noted in the literature (1), to the author's knowledge this is the first fully space-qualified V-band Receiver reported for commercial applications.