Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Step up MyPyramid – comparing teaching methods for limited resource elementary school children: a pilot study

School based nutrition interventions have been shown to improve nutrition behaviors among elementary school-aged children; however, limited research has been done in low- income, ethnically diverse schools. Utilizing constructs from the Social Cognitive Theory (outcome expectancies/ expectations, self-efficacy, sociocultural factors), a randomized school trial was designed to pilot test methods for teaching third through fifth graders to utilize MyPyramid to increase: nutrition knowledge; fruit and vegetable, low-fat dairy and whole grain consumption; physical activity; and positive attitudes about nutrition and physical activity. Participating schools were low-income with high percentages of Latino and African American students. Students ranged in age from 9-11 years. Preliminary data collected from two schools (N= 27 students) guided the intervention development. Elementary schools (N=5) were randomized into intervention and control schools and administered pre- and post-tests. Students (N=49) in intervention classrooms received six 1-hour classes on MyPyramid conducted by a nutrition professional. Lessons were adapted for cultural differences and socioeconomic status using the teacher curricula provided by the MyPyramid website. Controls (N=39) received MyPyramid written materials only. Nutrition knowledge score for intervention students significantly increased from 5.474 to 8.018 as did controls from 7.353 to 8.772. Correct responses for daily recommended dairy servings increased from 45% to 65% in intervention students. No significant changes in behavior were observed. Challenges included lack of parental consent forms, and classrooms with varying levels of language and reading comprehension, and behavioral problems. Adapted MyPyramid in-class lessons appear to have a positive impact on nutrition knowledge among low-income, diverse elementary school students; however, more research is needed.
Pulse Rate Monitoring Using Narrowband Received Signal Strength Measurements

Radio frequency (RF) solutions for human vital sign monitoring have gained importance due to their low device cost and non-contact sensing. However, most systems are quite heavy users of RF spectrum, e.g., transmitting hundreds of WiFi packets per second, which then interferes with wireless communications. In this paper, we present a narrowband RF-based pulse rate monitoring system which uses orders of magnitudes less spectrum and remains low-cost and non-contact. To achieve this, we use received signal strength (RSS) measurements, which then impose challenges due to the very low signal-to-noise ratio and the use of a single dimensional measurement of the channel. We apply a combination of linear and non-linear filtering, and a new estimator to address these challenges. We report experimental results showing an error of 1.6 beats/min (bpm), similar to the state-of-the-art, but using three orders of magnitude less bandwidth.
Is there a relationship between footstep-impact locations and measured signal characteristics?

Building utilization can be enhanced by tracking occupants. Non-intrusive tracking of occupants using floor-vibration measurements is beneficial for many smart-building applications such as energy consumption, security enhancement, and care-giving. Also, unlike cameras, vibration measurements do not undermine privacy. Current methodologies for interpreting floor vibrations are often data-driven and thus, do not account for the varying floor stiffness due to structural elements such as beams, columns and walls. In this paper, characteristics of floor vibrations are evaluated in order to assess their potential to perform model-based occupant localization. Empirical analyses of a full-scale case study are conducted to determine signal characteristics that provide information regarding occupant location. Structural elements are found to have a significant influence on measured floor vibrations due to footstep impacts. Moreover, the measured response is not a monotonic function of distance between the sensors and impact locations. Thus, the use of a model is necessary to interpret occupant locations. Using a sensitivity analysis, several signal characteristics are suggested for occupant localization. Using a physics-based model for interpreting measurement data is an ill-posed inverse task. Solutions to such tasks are sensitive to presence of uncertainties from multiple sources. Two sources of uncertainty measurement uncertainty and uncertainty from occupant gait, have been investigated. Incorporating these uncertainties improves occupant localization.
Synthesis, Characterization, Kinetics, and Thermodynamics of EDTA-Modified Chitosan-Carboxymethyl Cellulose as Cu(II) Ion Adsorbent

A new adsorbent derived from the naturally occurring biopolymers, chitosan (CS) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was prepared by cross-linking them using EDTA. EDTA having high affinity for metal ions can be used to enhance the chelation properties of the adsorbent enormously. The product obtained (chitosan-EDTA-CMC, CSECM) was characterized by different techniques: FTIR, XRD, SEM/EDAX, TGA, and XPS. The parameters for evaluation of the adsorption properties for removal of Cu(II) ions from the aqueous solution were determined using the batch adsorption method by studying the effect of pH, contact time, initial ion concentration, and temperature on adsorption. Pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intraparticle diffusion kinetic models were applied to study the kinetics of the adsorption process, whereas Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and D-R models were applied to evaluate the thermodynamics of the adsorption process. The kinetic adsorption parameters were in best agreement with the pseudo-second-order model, while thermodynamic parameters best fitted to the Langmuir isotherm at different temperatures for adsorption of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solution with a maximum adsorption capacity of 142.95 mg/g at pH 5.5. CSECM showed excellent regeneration capability and recovery of the Cu(II) ion up to five cycles without the loss of the adsorption efficiency, which is the best characteristic to select the appropriate choice of the adsorbent. The adsorbent was also employed in batch experiments to evaluate the adsorption of hardness, producing common metal ions in single and real wastewater solutions.
RNA-seq transcriptome profiling of porcine lung from two pig breeds in response to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infection

Background Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhp) is the main pathogen causing respiratory disease in the swine industry. Mhp infection rates differ across pig breeds, with Chinese native pig breeds that exhibit high fecundity (e.g., Jiangquhai, Meishan, Erhualian) more sensitive than Duroc, Landrace, and other imported pig breeds. However, the genetic basis of the immune response to Mhp infection in different pig breeds is largely unknown. Aims The aims of this study were to determine the relative Mhp susceptibility of the Chinese native Jiangquhai breed compared to the Duroc breed, and identify molecular mechanisms of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using an RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) approach. Methods Jiangquhai and Duroc pigs were artificially infected with the same Mhp dose. The entire experiment lasted 28 days. Daily weight gain, Mhp-specific antibody levels, and lung lesion scores were measured to evaluate the Mhp infection susceptibility of different breeds. Experimental pigs were slaughtered on the 28th day. Lung tissues were collected for total RNA extraction. RNA-seq was performed to identify DEGs, which were enriched by gene ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia annotation of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases. DEGs were validated with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results Infection with the same Mhp dose produced a more serious condition in Jiangquhai pigs than in Duroc pigs. Jiangquhai pigs showed poorer growth, higher Mhp antibody levels, and more serious lung lesions compared with Duroc pigs. RNA-seq identified 2,250 and 3,526 DEGs in lung tissue from Jiangquhai and Duroc pigs, respectively. The two breeds shared 1,669 DEGs, which were involved in immune-relevant pathways including cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and chemokine signaling pathway. Compared to Jiangquhai pigs, more chemokines, interferon response factors, and interleukins were specifically activated in Duroc pigs; CXCL10, CCL4, IL6 and IFNG genes were significantly up-regulated, which may help Duroc pigs enhance immune response and reduce Mhp susceptibility. Conclusion This study demonstrated differential immune-related DEGs in lung tissue from the two breeds, and revealed an important role of genetics in the immune response to Mhp infection. The biological functions of these important DEGs should be further confirmed and maybe applied as molecular markers that improve pig health.
Normal mammogram analysis

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women. Screening mammography is the only method currently available for the reliable detection of early and potentially curable breast cancer. Research indicates that the mortality rate could decrease by 30% if women age 50 and older have regular mammograms. The detection rate can be increased 5–15% by providing the radiologist with results from a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system acting as a “second opinion. ” However, among screening mammograms routinely interpreted by radiologists, very few (approximately 0.5%) cases actually have breast cancer. It would be beneficial if an accurate CAD system existed to identify normal mammograms and thus allowing the radiologist to focus on suspicious cases. This strategy could reduce the radiologist's workload and improve screening performance. In this dissertation, we propose a new full-field mammogram analysis method focusing on characterizing and identifying normal mammograms. A mammogram is analyzed region by region and is classified as normal or abnormal. We present methods for extracting features that can be used to distinguish normal and abnormal regions of a mammogram. A set of 86 features from four different types of characterization is extracted from each region. We implement a method to select a nearly optimal feature subset for the classification. We propose a unique multi-stage cascading classification method to boost the classification performance. The classifier performs better than a single classifier in that it significantly reduces the false positive rate, the misclassification rate of normal mammograms as abnormal. We have tested this technique on a set of ground-truth full-field mammograms. The results are comparable to human readers. This approach is independent of the type of abnormalities and may complement computer-aided detection based on the recognition of specific types of abnormal structures.
•Italian Jour v. 5 n. 3 suppl

The study took place between July and September 2008 with the main objective to develop a first local environmental assessment suitable to obtain a general description of the agro-system environment of five villages in the Southern Region of Malawi. The research has been carried out in an administrative sub-division of the peri-urban area of the city of Blantyre, called Ntonda EPA (Extension Planning Area), where target villages had been previously identified for the overexploitation of their natural resource base and the mismanagement of their soils. This study attempts to illustrate the agro-ecosystem of the five villages in the area, their main features and the main anthropic factors, viewed as causes that could lead to desertification. As the matter of fact, the overexploitation of soils, which can be fairly considered as the one and only resource base endowment available in the area. The current farming system, heavily reliant on mere subsistence, is strictly interlinked with unsustainable fertilisation methods and a prevalent lack of socio-economic activities. Poorly planned and managed cropping systems yield low and erratic productions, despite government subsidised chemical fertilisation programmes; post-harvest management and storage are nearly inexistent and so are agricultural commodity exchanges with otherwise fairly accessible urban areas. As a result, agricultural investment (including on soil conservation) is minimal and local areas remain vulnerable to land degradation and ultimately to desertification. The baseline data collected with this research provide information on the main issues that determine the process of land degradation and desertification in the area. The study is based on the analysis of climate and soil parameters. This paper attempts to provide: – a first assessment of vulnerability to desertification at local level, specifically at village level in the Southern Region of Malawi; – an identification of the major causes and trends of agro-system degradation; – a set of recommendations as to how to avoid further degradation of the agro-system before the desertification process becomes irreversible and untreatable.
FABP4 levels in hypothyroidism and its relationship with subclinical atherosclerosis

Background/aim The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between serum fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) levels and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in patients with hypothyroidism. Materials and methods Forty subclinical hypothyroidism patients, 40 overt hypothyroidism patients, and 40 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Blood pressure, body mass index, CIMT, fasting blood sugar, creatine, alanine aminotransferase, lipid parameters, insulin, free thyroxine, triiodothyronine, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO), thyroglobulin antibody (anti-TG), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), and FABP4 levels of all participants were measured. Results Serum FABP4 levels were significantly higher in patients with subclinical and overt hypothyroidism than healthy controls (HCs) (P = 0.044 and P = 0.014, respectively). There was no significant difference in terms of FABP4 levels between patients with subclinical and overt hypothyroidism (P = 0.641). Serum TSH levels and serum FABP4 levels were positively correlated (r = 0.201, P = 0.039). CIMT was found to be higher in patients with subclinical and overt hypothyroidism than in HCs (P = 0.042 and P < 0.001, respectively). No correlation was found between CIMT and FABP4 levels (r = 0.038, P = 0.702). There was a positive correlation between CIMT and TSH, anti-TPO, anti-TG, triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol levels. It was found that high TG levels were an independent factor that increased CIMT (r = 0.382, r2 = 0.146). Conclusion In patients with subclinical and overt hypothyroidism, the level of FABP4 increases and this increase is correlated with the increase in TSH level. It is thought that FABP4 does not play a role in atherosclerosis development in patients with hypothyroidism without metabolic disorder.
Early versus late initiation of renal replacement therapy for acute kidney injury in critically ill patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Acute kidney injury is associated with high mortality, and is the most frequent complication encountered in patients residing in the intensive care unit. Although renal replacement therapy (RRT) is the standard of care for acute kidney injury, the optimal timing for initiation is still unknown. Methods We conducted a systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials evaluating early versus late initiation of RRT in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL databases from inception to October 15, 2018. We screened studies and extracted data from published reported independently. The primary outcome was short-term mortality. Results A total of 2242 patients were included from 11 trials. No statistically significant effect was found for early versus late initiation of RRT on short-term mortality (risk ratio [RR] 0.99, 95% CI 0.84–1.17, p = 0.93) or long-term mortality (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.85–1.13, p = 0.76). There were also no statistically significant effects on ICU length of stay, hospital length of stay, recovery of renal function, and renal replacement therapy dependence. Early initiation of RRT decreased the risk of metabolic acidosis (RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.43–0.99, p = 0.04), but increased the risk of hypotension (RR 1.24, 95% CI 1.08–1.43, p = 0.003). Conclusions In critically ill patients with acute kidney injury, early compared with late initiation of RRT is not associated with favorable mortality outcomes, although it appears to reduce the risk of metabolic acidosis.
Higher-Protein Intake Improves Body Composition Index in Female Collegiate Dancers.

Aesthetic athletes strive to attain an ideal body image and the physical demands placed on dancers make their body composition and fitness equally as important as their technique. Body composition has shown positive changes in response to increased protein intake and may improve aesthetics of dance performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which supplemental whey protein (PRO) would improve body composition in female collegiate dancers compared to an isocaloric placebo (PLA). Twenty-one (19.6 ± 1.4 years) female collegiate dancers were randomly assigned to consume PRO or PLA (25g, 3x/day) for 12 weeks. Laboratory testing at weeks 0, 6 and 12 included, 24-hour urine collection, body composition (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), resting metabolic rate and performance. Data were reported as mean ± SD. Significance was accepted at p<0.05. Body weight, fat mass, and lean soft tissue did not change between groups or over time. Body composition index (BCI= (LSTpost-LSTpre)+(FMpre-FMpost)) significantly improved over time in PRO (+0.6 ± 1.9) but not PLA (-1.8 ± 3.1; p=0.048) however, neither group demonstrated changes in laboratory performance tests. Protein supplementation for 12 weeks significantly improved BCI and provides a simple way to improve the diet in female collegiate dancers. Novelty Bullets ●12-weeks of protein supplementation does not change body weight in female collegiate dancers ●Body composition index improves following protein supplementation in female collegiate dancers.
Evening circadian preference is associated with sleep problems and daytime sleepiness in adolescents with ADHD

Adolescence is a developmental period characterized by disruptions in sleep and changes in circadian preferences. Although adolescents with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at even higher risk of sleep disruption than their peers, no study has examined whether circadian preference is associated with sleep problems and daytime sleepiness in adolescents with ADHD. This study provides an initial test of the hypothesis that greater evening preference would be associated with more sleep problems and daytime sleepiness in adolescents diagnosed with ADHD. Participants were 80 adolescents (69% male), aged 13–17 years, with ADHD. Adolescents completed measures assessing circadian preference, pubertal development, anxiety/depressive symptoms and weeknight sleep duration. Both adolescents and parents completed measures of sleep problems and daytime sleepiness. In regression analyses controlling for a number of other variables (i.e., age, sex, pubertal development, ADHD medication use, and ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder and internalizing symptom severity), greater evening preference was associated with both adolescent‐ and parent‐reported sleep problems and daytime sleepiness. Greater evening preference remained significantly associated with each of these sleep problems and daytime sleepiness when also controlling for weeknight sleep duration. This is the first study to demonstrate that evening circadian preference is associated with both sleep problems and daytime sleepiness in adolescents with ADHD. The results indicate that it is important to consider circadian function as research examining sleep in adolescents with ADHD continues to advance.
Spectral measure of color variation of black - orange - black (BOB) pattern in small parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), a statistical approach

A group of eight scelionid genera were studied by means of microspectrophotometric measurements for the first time. The orange and black colors were analyzed quantitatively, which in combination with Functional Data Analysis and statistical analysis of Euclidean distances for color components, describe and test the color differences between genera. The data analyzed by means of Functional Data Analysis proved to be a better method to treat the reflectance data because it gave a better representation of the physical information. When comparing the differences between curves of the same color but different genera, maximum differences were present in different ranges of the spectra, depending on the genus. Reflectance spectra were separated into their spectral color components contributions (red, blue and green). Each component had its own dominant wavelength at the maximum of the spectrum. We found differences in the dominant wavelength for specimens of the same genus, which are equivalent to differences in the hue. A correlation between the mean values of characteristics of the color components was used in an attempt to group the genera that show similar values. The spectral blue components of the orange and black areas were almost identical, suggesting that there is a common compound for the pigments. The results also suggest that cuticle from different genera, but with the same color (black vs black, orange vs orange) might have a similar chemical composition.
The Impact of Performing Medical/Nursing Tasks at Home Among Caregivers of Individuals With Cognitive Impairment

Caregiving for older adults with cognitive impairment can be more difficult as caregivers are required to perform medical/nursing tasks at home. Little is known about medical/nursing tasks and their relationship to caregivers’ characteristics and their effects on caregiver burden. Secondary data analyses were conducted with 423 caregivers of individuals with cognitive impairment from the 2015 National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) data. In terms of the caregiving context, caregivers who performed medical/nursing tasks lived with the care recipients and provided longer hours of care than caregivers who did not perform medical/nursing tasks. When caregivers delivered medical/nursing tasks, they were 2 times more likely to experience higher levels of caregiver burden. Medical/nursing tasks can exacerbate caregiver burden. Health care providers’ explanations of the needs and the benefits of performing medical/nursing tasks, as well as education and training for the tasks, are needed to reduce caregiver burden.