Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Short or long sleep duration is associated with memory impairment in older Chinese: the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To examine the association between sleep-related factors and memory impairment. DESIGN Cross-sectional study SETTING Community-based study in Guangzhou, China. PARTICIPANTS 28,670 older Chinese (20,776 women and 7,894 men) aged 50 to 85 years. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Demographic and socioeconomic data, sleep-related factors, and cognitive function were collected by face-to-face interview. Potential confounders, such as employment and occupational status, smoking, alcohol and tea use, physical activity, self-rated health, anthropometry, blood pressure, and fasting plasma glucose and lipids were measured. After adjusting for multiple potential confounders, an inverted U-shaped association between sleep duration and delayed word recall test (DWRT) score, a validated measure of memory impairment, was found, with 7 to 8 h of habitual sleep duration showing the highest score (P-values for trend from 3 to 7 h and from 7 to ≥ 10 h were all ≤ 0.001). Compared to sleep duration of 7 h, the adjusted odds ratio for memory impairment from the sleep duration of 3 to 4 or ≥ 10 h was 1.29 (95% confidence interval 1.07-1.56) and 1.52 (1.25-1.86), respectively. Subjects with daily napping, morning tiredness, or insomnia had significantly lower DWRT scores than those without (P ranged from < 0.001 to 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Short or long sleep duration was an important sleep-related factor independently associated with memory impairment and may be a useful marker for increased risk of cognitive impairment in older people.
A comparison of the neurotrophic activities of the flavonoid fisetin and some of its derivatives

Neurotrophic factors promote the development, maintenance and regeneration of nerve cells. Classical neurotrophic factors are proteins and thus not well-suited for therapeutic purposes. Recently, we showed that specific flavonoids such as fisetin (3, 7, 3′, 4′ tetrahydroxyflavone) promote the differentiation of nerve cells in culture through the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) suggesting that flavonoids could substitute for neurotrophic factors. It has also been shown that fisetin promotes nerve cell survival following exposure to toxic oxidative insults. To determine whether or not this is unique to fisetin, a series of related compounds were assayed for neurotrophic activities. Many of these related compounds also promote nerve cell differentiation and are neuroprotective against toxic oxidative insults. However, the mechanisms underlying these neurotrophic effects differ among the compounds.
Nonparametric Composite Hypothesis Testing in an Asymptotic Regime

We investigate the nonparametric, composite hypothesis testing problem for arbitrary unknown distributions in the asymptotic regime where both the sample size and the number of hypothesis grow exponentially large. Such asymptotic analysis is important in many practical problems, where the number of variations that can exist within a family of distributions can be countably infinite. We introduce the notion of discrimination capacity, which captures the largest exponential growth rate of the number of hypothesis relative to the sample size so that there exists a test with asymptotically vanishing probability of error. Our approach is based on various distributional distance metrics in order to incorporate the generative model of the data. We provide analyses of the error exponent using the maximum mean discrepancy and Kolmogorov–Smirnov distance and characterize the corresponding discrimination rates, i.e., lower bounds on the discrimination capacity, for these tests. Finally, an upper bound on the discrimination capacity based on Fano's inequality is developed. Numerical results are presented to validate the theoretical results.
Sensitivity Analysis of a Validated Subject-Specific Finite Element Model of the Human Craniofacial Skeleton

Developing a more complete understanding of the mechanical response of the craniofacial skeleton (CFS) to physiological loads is fundamental to improving treatment for traumatic injuries, reconstruction due to neoplasia, and deformities. Characterization of the biomechanics of the CFS is challenging due to its highly complex structure and heterogeneity, motivating the utilization of experimentally validated computational models. As such, the objective of this study was to develop, experimentally validate, and parametrically analyse a patient-specific finite element (FE) model of the CFS to elucidate a better understanding of the factors that are of intrinsic importance to the skeletal structural behaviour of the human CFS. An FE model of a cadaveric craniofacial skeleton was created from subject-specific computed tomography data. The model was validated based on bone strain measurements taken under simulated physiological-like loading through the masseter and temporalis muscles (which are responsible for the majority of craniofacial physiologic loading due to mastication). The baseline subject-specific model using locally defined cortical bone thicknesses produced the strongest correlation to the experimental data (r2 = 0.73). Large effects on strain patterns arising from small parametric changes in cortical thickness suggest that the very thin bony structures present in the CFS are crucial to characterizing the local load distribution in the CFS accurately.
Participation in daily activities and social roles of older adults with visual impairment

Purpose. (1) to document participation in daily activities and social roles of older adults seeking services for visual impairment (VI) and compare it with that of the older population without VI or other disabilities, and (2) to explore correlates of their participation. Methods. The 64 participants (46 women) had an average age of 79.3 years (SD = 5.9 years) and presented various types of VI. Participants were interviewed at home to collect information regarding their visual function (National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25), sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, including depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale), and participation (Assessment of Life Habits/LIFE-H). Each participant was matched with another person without disabilities randomly recruited from the community. Results for the two populations on the Life-H participation domains were compared using t-tests. In the group with VI, general information (independent variables) was examined in relation to participation main scores (dependent variables), followed by multiple linear regression analyses. Results. Participation in daily activities and social roles of participants with VI (mean ± SD (/9) = 6.8 ± 1.0 and 5.6 ± 1.6, respectively) was significantly lower than that of participants without VI (8.1 ± 0.4 and 8.3 ± 0.4) (p < 0.0001). Depressive symptoms and perceived quality of distance vision were the strongest correlates and together explained more than 65% of the variance in the participation scores of the subjects with VI. Conclusions. This study demonstrates the participation restrictions associated with VI and underlines the importance of psychological aspects in participation.
Behavioral profiles of inbred strains on novel olfactory, spatial and emotional tests for reference memory in mice

Studying the behavior of genetic background strains provides important information for the design and interpretation of cognitive phenotypes in mutant mice. Our experiments examined the performance of three commonly used strains (C57BL/6J, 129S6, DBA/2J) on three behavioral tests for learning and memory that measure very different forms of memory, and for which there is a lack of data on strain differences. In the social transmission of food preference test (STFP) all three strains demonstrated intact memory for an odor‐cued food that had been sampled on the breath of a cagemate 24 hours previously. While C57BL/6J and 129S6 mice showed good trace fear conditioning, DBA/2J mice showed a profound deficit on trace fear conditioning. In the Barnes maze test for spatial memory, the 129S6 strain showed poor probe trial performance, relative to C57BL/6J mice. Comparison of strains for open field exploratory activity and anxiety‐like behavior suggests that poor Barnes maze performance reflects low exploratory behavior, rather than a true spatial memory deficit, in 129S6 mice. This interpretation is supported by good Morris water maze performance in 129S6 mice. These data support the use of a C57BL/6J background for studying memory deficits in mutant mice using any of these tasks, and the use of a 129S6 background in all but the Barnes maze. A DBA/2J background may be particularly useful for investigating the genetic basis of emotional memory using fear conditioning.
Toll-Like Receptor 2 Is Required for Innate, But Not Acquired, Host Defense to Borrelia burgdorferi1

Borrelia burgdorferi lipoproteins activate inflammatory cells through Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), suggesting that TLR2 could play a pivotal role in the host response to B. burgdorferi. TLR2 does play a critical role in host defense, as infected TLR2−/− mice harbored up to 100-fold more spirochetes in tissues than did TLR2+/+ littermates. Spirochetes persisted at extremely elevated levels in TLR2-deficient mice for at least 8 wk following infection. Infected TLR2−/− mice developed normal Borrelia-specific Ab responses, as measured by quantity of Borrelia-specific Ig isotypes, the kinetics of class switching to IgG, and the complexity of the Ags recognized. These findings indicate that the failure to control spirochete levels in tissues is not due to an impaired acquired immune response. While macrophages from TLR2−/− mice were not responsive to lipoproteins, they did respond to nonlipoprotein components of sonicated spirochetes. These TLR2-independent responses could play a role during the inflammatory response to B. burgdorferi, as infected TLR2−/− mice developed greater ankle swelling than wild-type littermates. Thus, while TLR2-dependent signaling pathways play a major role in the innate host defense to B. burgdorferi, both inflammatory responses and the development of the acquired humoral response can occur in the absence of TLR2.
Non-autonomous dynamic network model involving growth and decay

Quantifying growth model in large scale complex networks has been analyzed using various distributions. Networks which are of ample interest in current scenario tend to follow the exponential distribution in their degree characteristics. This preferential attachment model only reflected the growth mechanism of the system. Birth and death are two indistinguishable phenomena of nature, thus losses of links and nodes in a network are bound to affect the distribution. Whether it be social network or biological reactions or body growth or it be popularity of actor or popularity of music genre all goes through three phases of growth, saturation and finally tends to decay. In this paper, we study this effect and come up with a more general “Gamma Distribution” model for these systems. A truly astonishing characteristic of these systems is their non-autonomy. The degree distribution parameter shows time dependency and follows an ‘inverted bathtub’ curve. Initially when the birth rate exceeds the death rate of links, the number of links increases, which lowers the number of hubs to number of links ratio. Thus, the distribution parameter (γ for scale-free) increases. When both rates are same, flat portion of bathtub curve is obtained. Finally, when the death of links dominates, three possibilities are there: When the number of hubs remains almost unchanged, decreasing portion of ‘inverted bathtub curve’ is observed. When hubs also start decaying, constant parameter value persists or creates spike in the curve on abrupt hub deaths. These sudden spikes can occur anytime during the life period of a network.
EM field prediction inside lossy multilayer elliptic cylinders for biological-body modeling and numerical-procedure testing

In this paper, a biological model made up of a multilayer elliptic cylinder is considered. This canonical scattering problem is solved by a recursive procedure, which has been generalized to the case of lossy materials by using the analytical properties of Mathieu functions. Although it is a simplified model, this stratified configuration may simulate better than circular cylinders the local behaviour of biological subsystems. In addition, it represents an effective tool for producing analytical data for testing direct-scattering numerical codes in biomedical applications and for the evaluation of reconstruction procedures in medical imaging.
Exploring the Length and Complexity of Couples Travel Decision Making

A quasi-experiment is used to examine the dynamics of the shared decision-making process by observing couples in real time as they make decisions about an overnight stay at a luxury resort. Observations and video recordings of the decision processes of 24 couples were coded and analyzed. The time to final decision, number, and type of tactics used were found to vary with couples’ length of experience with one another. Observation indicated that couples with greater travel experience together relied on “predealing” based on their experience together to avoid conflict, while less-experienced couples’ decisions were more likely to yield winners and losers. These findings and those related to the use of persuasive tactics by members of the couple dyads provide the basis for specific recommendations for marketing travel products.
Comparability of Segmented Line Regression Models

Summary Segmented line regression models, which are composed of continuous linear phases, have been applied to describe changes in rate trend patterns. In this article, we propose a procedure to compare two segmented line regression functions, specifically to test (i) whether the two segmented line regression functions are identical or (ii) whether the two mean functions are parallel allowing different intercepts. A general form of the test statistic is described and then the permutation procedure is proposed to estimate the p‐value of the test. The permutation test is compared to an approximate F‐test in terms of the p‐value estimation and the performance of the permutation test is studied via simulations. The tests are applied to compare female lung cancer mortality rates between two registry areas and also to compare female breast cancer mortality rates between two states.
Modeling and analysis of PWM converters with a new GSSA method

Due to the switching operation, the pulse-width modulation (PWM) converters are inherent time-variant systems with comprehensive dynamics. The generalized state-space averaging (GSSA) method is an approach to model them as time-invariant systems, defined by a set of differential equations and capable of representing circuit waveforms. This paper proposes a new generalized state-space averaging model to model the converters with variations in input voltage, which can give accurate ripple estimations and also helps for the control design without complicated calculation. The model can be treated as a basic modeling framework of some specific converters, such as the power factor correctors (PFC). As examples, the models of buck and boost circuits are analyzed and simulation results are presented.
Detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in food

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli are emerging as a significant source of food-borne infectious disease all over the world. Illness caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli can range from self limited, watery diarrhea to life-threatening manifestations such as hemorrhagic colitis, hemolytic uremic syndrome or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and death. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli can potentially enter the human food chain from a number of animal sources, most commonly by contamination of meat with feces or intestinal contents after slaughter or cross-contamination of unpasteurized milk products. Because of the low infectious dose of the O157:H7 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strain, laboratory diagnosis of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in food samples has developed a great importance. This review will focus on the microorganism, giving priority to illness prevention and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli detection in food.
Influence of UTD singularities on the quality of millimetre-wave images

For the purpose of MMW-Imaging different setups can be considered. When active sensorics are applied the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) concept is often used, since real apertures would require large dimensions in order to obtain the required resolutions. The resulting images show different characteristics, depending on shape and position of the synthetic aperture. The UTD-theory is suitable to consider the different scattering contributions of an object separately. In order to obtain a reconstruction result similar to an optical image the acquisition of the specular reflections seems to be important. Different imaging setups are evaluated with respect to the resulting images of objects that can be modeled using UTD-theory.
The Risk-Taking Channel of Monetary Policy in the Us: Evidence from Corporate Loan Data

To study the presence of a risk-taking channel in the U.S., we build a comprehensive data set from the syndicated corporate loan market and measure monetary policy using different measures, most notably Taylor (1993) and Romer and Romer (2004) residuals. We identify a negative relation between monetary policy rates and bank risk-taking, especially in the run up to the 2007 financial crisis. However, this effect is purely supply-side driven only when using Taylor residuals and an ex ante measure of bank risk-taking. Our results highlight the sensitivity of the potency of the risk-taking channel to the measures of monetary policy innovations.
Primary frequency regulation by deloaded wind turbines using variable droop

This paper introduces a method to improve the primary frequency contribution of grid connected variable speed wind turbine generators (WTGs). Using their energy reserve margins, deloaded WTGs are controlled to provide relief to the grid during depressed frequency conditions. The frequency support from individual WTGs is regulated based on the available reserve, which depends on the prevailing wind velocities. By continuously adjusting the droop of the WTG in response to wind velocities, its primary frequency response is significantly improved in terms of reduced stresses on WTGs during low wind speeds. The impact of variable droop operation on two aspects of WTG operation is investigated-primary frequency contribution and smoothening power fluctuations caused due to changes in wind speed. Also highlighted is the usefulness of this control when adopted by wind farms.
Exploring consumer experiences in guesthouses in South Africa : an experience economy approach

VI LIST OF TABLES . XIII LIST OF FIGURES.XIV LIST OF ADDENDA . XVI LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . XVII CHAPTER 1: THE STUDY IN PERSPECTIVE . 1 1.
Is Aggregate Volatility a Priced Risk Factor?

This paper shows that the relationships between sensitivity to changes in aggregate volatility and expected return on stocks documented by Ang et al. (2006) for the fifteen-year period from 1986 to 2000 have disappeared in the following fifteen-year period. Aggregate volatility betas in the portfolio pre-formation month have not predicted post-formation returns. Alphas from time-series regressions of excess returns on the high-minus-low sensitivity to aggregate volatility portfolio with respect to the CAPM, the Fama-French 3-factor model, and the Fama-French 5-factor model have not been statistically different from zero. Finally, the price of aggregate volatility risk has not been statistically different from zero. These findings raise an important question of whether the empirical results on the relationships between sensitivity to changes in aggregate volatility and expected stock returns in Ang et al. (2006) held based on rational expectations or due to mispricing. Additionally, I present evidence that the price of aggregate volatility risk may be asymmetric.
Characterization of plasmids in halobacteria

Extrachromosomal, covalently closed circular deoxyribonucleic acid has been isolated from different species of halobacteria. Three strains of Halobacterium halobium and one of Halobacterium cutirubrum, all of which synthesize purple membrane (Pum+) and bacterioruberin (Rub+), contain plasmids of different size which share extensive sequence homologies. One strain of Halobacterium salinarium, another one of Halobacterium capanicum, and two new Halobacterium isolates from Tunisia, which are also Pum+ Rub+, do not harbor covalently closed circular deoxyribonucleic acid but contain sequences, presumably integrated into the chromosome, which are similar if not identical to those of pHH1, i.e., the plasmid originally isolated from H. halobium. Three other halophilic strains, Halobacterium trapanicum, Halobacterium volcanii, and a new isolate from Israel, do not carry pHH1-like sequences. These strains are, by morphological and physiological criteria, different from the others examined and harbor plasmids unrelated to pHH1.
Hemodynamics and Arterial Properties in Response to Mental Stress in Individuals with Mild Hypertension

Objective: The role of tonic sympathetic stimulation on the properties of large arteries is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of mental stress on hemodynamics and arterial properties in mild hypertensives. Method: Twenty‐three subjects with mild hypertension and 19 age‐matched normotensives were compared to examine changes in hemodynamics and central arterial wave reflection before, during, and after mental stress. Results: The results demonstrate an acute effect of mental stress on blood pressure, heart rate, and arterial compliance. The static component (MBP) and the pulsatile (PP) component of arterial pressure increased significantly during mental stress and returned to baseline within a few minutes. Mild hypertensives did not have an increased response to mental stress. For both groups, an increase in HR and a consequent rise in CO were responsible for the increase in BP in response to mental stress. Compared with baseline, both groups demonstrated a decrease in arterial compliance during stress. Mental stress did not induce a significant change in total peripheral vascular resistance nor did it affect central arterial wave reflection in both groups. Individuals with mild hypertension demonstrated higher PP (p < .001), lower arterial compliance (p < .01), and higher AI (p < .05) than those with normal BP. Conclusions: Hemodynamic and arterial responses to mental stress in individuals with normal BP and mild hypertension were similar. Several parameters, however, were different in basal state. These differences (ie, higher PP, lower compliance, and higher AI in the mild hypertensive group) could be due to the chronic effect of sympathetic stimulation on central arteries.