Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Leisure-time aerobic physical activity, muscle-strengthening activity and mortality risks among US adults: the NHANES linked mortality study

Background Regular physical activity elicits multiple health benefits in the prevention and management of chronic diseases. We examined the mortality risks associated with levels of leisure-time aerobic physical activity and muscle-strengthening activity based on the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans among US adults. Methods We analysed data from the 1999 to 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with linked mortality data obtained through 2006. Cox proportional HRs with 95% CIs were estimated to assess risks for all-causes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality associated with aerobic physical activity and muscle-strengthening activity. Results Of 10 535 participants, 665 died (233 deaths from CVD) during an average of 4.8-year follow-up. Compared with participants who were physically inactive, the adjusted HR for all-cause mortality was 0.64 (95% CI 0.52 to 0.79) among those who were physically active (engaging in ≥150 min/week of the equivalent moderate-intensity physical activity) and 0.72 (95% CI 0.54 to 0.97) among those who were insufficiently active (engaging in >0 to <150 min/week of the equivalent moderate-intensity physical activity). The adjusted HR for CVD mortality was 0.57 (95% CI 0.34 to 0.97) among participants who were insufficiently active and 0.69 (95% CI 0.43 to 1.12) among those who were physically active. Among adults who were insufficiently active, the adjusted HR for all-cause mortality was 44% lower by engaging in muscle-strengthening activity ≥2 times/week. Conclusions Engaging in aerobic physical activity ranging from insufficient activity to meeting the 2008 Guidelines reduces the risk of premature mortality among US adults. Engaging in muscle-strengthening activity ≥2 times/week may provide additional benefits among insufficiently active adults.
A compact electromagnetic band gap ground controlled tunable dual mode band pass filter

This paper an embedded EBG ground controlled compact dual mode tunable band pass filter has been presented. Filter operating band can be dynamically tuned by switching on or off the RF switches between the via pad and ground plane. The tunability and the average fractional BW is found to be 24% and 15%, respectively. Paper also describes the behavior of the tunability for some selected switch configurations.
RISK MANAGEMENT IN REAL OPTIONS BASED PHARMACEUTICAL PORTFOLIO PLANNING

Recent research efforts in options pricing have shown that real options approaches are more appropriate for R&D project valuation because they account for the value of managerial flexibility to react to arising contingencies during R&D development. This technique allows for strategic decision-making in the context of hedging opportunities present in the financial markets by tracking the uncertainty in the value of a project in development through market-traded securities. In this work, we incorporate a Monte Carlo simulation procedure to a stochastic optimization model (OptFolio) of pharmaceutical R&D portfolio selection. This framework provides for a sensitivity analysis of candidate drug valuations and a risk management analysis for balancing risk versus reward tradeoffs. The resulting valuation method is applied to a case study involving the selection of optimal product portfolios, those that minimize risk for a specified level of return, to begin Phase I clinical testing from a set of candidate drugs.
Inequalities that hurt: demographic, socio-economic and health status inequalities in the utilization of health services in Serbia.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to analyse demographic, socio-economic and health status inequalities by gender in the utilization of health services in Serbia. METHODS Data from 2006 National Health Survey for Serbia were used. A total of 14,522 persons from six geographical regions of Serbia aged >or=20 years were completely interviewed. Logistic regression analyses were used to study the effects of demographic (age, gender, marital status and type of settlement), socio-economic (education and Wealth Index) and health status (self-perceived health) variables on the utilization of health services [visits to general practitioner (GP), private doctor, dentist and hospitalization]. All analyses were carried out separately for males and females. RESULTS As compared with women (reference category), a lower percentage of men visited a GP [odds ratio (OR) = 0.61; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.57-0.65], private doctor (OR = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.57-0.67) and dentist (OR = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.76-0.87), but there were no gender differences in hospitalization. Both males and females who belong to disadvantaged classes were less likely to have visited a GP, a private doctor or a dentist in 12 months before the interview, regardless of their health status. No inequalities by social class were observed for the hospitalization among persons with poor self-perceived health status, i.e. those in most need. CONCLUSIONS This study has shown that demographic, socio-economic and health status inequalities in the utilization of health services exist in Serbia. Wise health policy with equitable utilization of health services, regardless these inequalities should be a priority in shaping Serbian health care system reform.
Solvability of a Volterra–Stieltjes integral equation in the class of functions having limits at infinity

The paper is devoted to the study of the solvability of a nonlinear Volterra– Stieltjes integral equation in the class of real functions defined, bounded and continuous on the real half-axis R+ and having finite limits at infinity. The considered class of integral equations contains, as special cases, a few types of nonlinear integral equations. In particular, that class contains the Volterra–Hammerstein integral equation and the Volterra–Wiener–Hopf integral equation, among others. The basic tools applied in our study is the classical Schauder fixed point principle and a suitable criterion for relative compactness in the Banach space of real functions defined, bounded and continuous on R+. Moreover, we will utilize some facts and results from the theory of functions of bounded variation.
Role of methylprednisolone in the prevention of postpericardiotomy syndrome after cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE Postpericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) occurs in 10-40% of patients after cardiac operations. Pericardial effusions and tamponade occurring > 7 days after surgery are usually related to PPS and remain an important cause of cardiac surgery-related morbidity and mortality; therefore, preventing PPS is important. Colchicine affords safe and efficacious protection against PPS and related complications. However, the roles of corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in PPS prevention remains unclear. This study aimed to determine whether the intraoperative use of single-dose methylprednisolone can effectively prevent PPS. PATIENTS AND METHODS This retrospective study included 100 patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) who received a single intraoperative dose of 1 mg/kg methylprednisolone. A further 100 patients undergoing CABG, who were not given methylprednisolone, comprised the control group. The presence and severity of pericardial effusion was determined by echocardiography, with chest X-ray used to assess pleural effusion. RESULTS PPS occurrence and pericardial effusion occurrence were significantly lower in patients who received methylprednisolone (p = 0.02 and p = 0.007 respectively). Although the differences were not statistically significant, pericardial and pleural effusions were more severe in the control group than in the methylprednisolone group. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that methylprednisolone administration was independently associated with prevention of PPS (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.25-0.91, p < 0.026). CONCLUSIONS Intraoperative, single-dose methylprednisolone may confer protection against PPS in patients undergoing CABG.
A new locus for late-onset, progressive, hereditary hearing loss DFNA20 maps to 17q25.

We report the localization of DFNA20, a gene causing dominant, nonsyndromic, progressive hearing loss in a three-generation Midwestern family, to chromosome 17q25. Affected family members show a bilateral, sloping, progressive, sensorineural hearing loss, first evident at 6000 and 8000 Hz, that can be identified in some family members in the early teens and is clearly evident by the early twenties. As age increases, the degree of hearing loss increases with threshold shifts seen at all frequencies. Linkage to known hereditary hearing loss loci was excluded. A genome-wide screen detected positive linkage to D17S784 (LOD(Z) = 6.62; θ = 0). Haplotype analysis refines the DFNA20 critical region to 12 cM between D17S1806 and D17S668. Radiation hybrid mapping with Stanford G3 and TNG panels was used to evaluate the genes ACTG1, GRIN2C, FKHL13, P4HB, SPARC, and ARHGDIA as candidates for DFNA20.
Development of Aflatoxin B1-Lysine Adduct Monoclonal Antibody for Human Exposure Studies

ABSTRACT Mouse monoclonal antibodies were developed against a synthetic aflatoxin B1 (AFB)-lysine–cationized bovine serum albumin conjugate. The isotype of one of these antibodies, IIA4B3, has been classified as immunoglobulin G1(λ). The affinity and specificity of IIA4B3 were further characterized by a competitive radioimmunoassay. The affinities of IIA4B3 for AFB and its associated adducts and metabolites are ranked as follows: AFB-lysine > 8,9-dihydro-8-(2,6-diamino-4-oxo-3,4-dihydropyrimid-5-yl formamido)-9-hydroxy-AFB > AFB = 8,9-dihydro-8-(N7-guanyl)-9-hydroxy-AFB > aflatoxin M1 > aflatoxin Q1. IIA4B3 had about a 10-fold higher affinity for binding to AFB-lysine adduct than to AFB when 3H-AFB–lysine was used as the tracer. The concentration for 50% inhibition for AFB-lysine was 0.610 pmol; that for AFB was 6.85 pmol. IIA4B3 had affinities at least sevenfold and twofold higher than those of 2B11, a previously developed antibody against parent AFB, for the major aflatoxin-DNA adducts 8,9-dihydro-8-(N7-guanyl)-9-hydroxy-AFB and 8,9-dihydro-8-(2,6-diamino-4-oxo-3,4-dihydropyrimid-5-yl formamido)-9-hydroxy-AFB, respectively. An analytical method based on a competitive radioimmunoassay with IIA4B3 and3H-AFB–lysine was validated with a limit of detection of 10 fmol of AFB-lysine adduct. The method has been applied to the measurement of AFB-albumin adduct levels in human serum samples collected from the residents of areas at high risk for liver cancer.
The carcinogenicity of environmental tobacco smoke.

Male strain A/J mice were exposed for 6 h a day, 5 days a week to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) generated from Kentucky 1R4F reference cigarettes. Chamber concentrations were 87 mg/m3 of total suspended particulate matter (TSP), 246 p.p.m. of CO and 16 mg/m3 of nicotine. After 5 months, 33% of the ETS exposed and 11% of the control animals had one or several lung tumors; the difference was statistically not significant. A second group of animals exposed for 5 months to ETS was allowed to recover for another 4 months in filtered air. When they were killed, 85% of the ETS animals had lung tumors (average number per lung: 1.4 +/- 0.2), whereas in the control group 38% had lung tumors (average number of lung tumors in all animals 0.5 +/- 0.2). The differences in tumor incidence and multiplicity were statistically significant. More than 80% of all tumors were adenomas, the rest adenocarcinomas. When animals were pretreated with a carcinogen, lung tumor multiplicity was lower in the ETS exposed animals after 5 months compared with controls injected with a carcinogen and kept in air. However, after an additional 4 month recovery period in air, lung tumor multiplicities were the same in ETS plus carcinogen exposed mice as in carcinogen-treated air-exposed controls. Histopathologic and morphometric analysis of the lung tissue failed to reveal any differences between ETS exposed and control animals. However, immediately after ETS exposure, immunohistochemistry revealed increased staining for CYP1A1 in airway epithelia and lung parenchyma; following recovery in air, the staining disappeared again. Analysis of cell kinetics showed an initial burst of increased DNA synthesis in the epithelial cells of the airways and a smaller early positive response in the parenchyma. Feeding of butylated hydroxytoluene during ETS exposure did not modulate lung tumor development. It was concluded that ETS is a pulmonary carcinogen in strain A/J mice.
A new approach to improving the estimate of Delta () under European option

Estimating option sensitivities is another quite important task in nancial mathematics. In this paper, we improve the estimate of value for a vanilla European option by a robust stochastic algorithm based on quasi Monte Carlo methods and the antithetic variance reduction technique. In comparison to existing the naive Monte Carlo methods, we can improve accurate signi cantly by implementing our proposed algorithm.
High-Intensity Interval Training Beneficial Effects in Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice: Adipose Tissue, Liver Structure, and Pancreatic Islets

El objetivo fue evaluar el impacto del entrenamiento con intervalos de alta intensidad (EIAI) sobre el tejido adiposo, el higado y los islotes pancreaticos en ratones alimentados con dieta alta en grasas. Ratones C57BL/6, machos fueron alimentados con una de dos dietas: dieta estandar (grupo magro - MA) o una dieta alta en grasas (grupo obeso - OB). Despues de las primeras 12 semanas, los animales fueron divididos en dos grupos, no entrenados (MA-NE y OB-NE) y grupos entrenados (MA-E y OB-E), y comenzaron el protocolo de ejercicio. El protocolo de IEAI en los animales entrenados (MA-E y OB-E) en comparacion con sus contrapartes (MA-NE y OB-NE) condujo a una reduccion en el tamano de los islotes pancreaticos (MA-E vs. MA-NE -40 %, OB-E vs. OB-NE -22 %) y al aumento de la inmunodensidad de insulina en los islotes pancreaticos (MA-E vs. MA-NE +35 %, OB-E vs. OB-NE +31 %). Ademas, en el tejido adiposo se detecto una disminucion del diametro de los adipocitos (MA-E vs. MA-NE -23 %, OB-E vs. OB-NE -12 %), una reduccion en el indice de adiposidad (MA-E vs. MA-NE -49 %, OB-E vs. OB-NE -24 %) y en el higado una disminucion de la esteatosis (MA-E vs. MA-NE -57 %, OB-E vs. OB-NE -77 %). Estos cambios metabolicos caracterizan una actuacion beneficiosa del protocolo de EIAI en la natacion. El EIAI es capaz de mitigar los efectos negativos causados por la dieta alta en grasas, incluso con la ingesta continuada de esta dieta en el modelo animal. La EIAI tiene la ventaja de requir solo unas pocas sesiones semanales con corta duracion de cada sesion. Estos beneficios son importantes para motivar a la personas en las condiciones de falta de tiempo que tienen en la actualidad.
Knowledge Transfer, Knowledge-Based Resources, and Capabilities in E-Commerce Software Projects

Together with the recognition of successful knowledge transfer as an important growth strategy for small and medium-sized software firms, questions related to the knowledge-based resources have emerged, including what and where knowledge is and how capabilities may influence knowledge transfer in e-commerce software projects. This study provides a deeper understanding of the relevance of knowledge transfer in such projects. The research findings identify the challenges of transferring this tacit knowledge across such projects and even within the user organizations as well. In addition to the technology knowledge and the absorptive capabilities perspectives, this study considers the market knowledge and the associated marketing capabilities as the alternative input to such projects. Most importantly, it offers a clear guide to project managers in their team building and recruiting. By using rigorous theoretical deductions and empirical support from the case studies, the study provides significant research contributions to the academicians and the implications for the practitioners of software projects.
Computer Based Training, is it worth the money?

Computer Based Training (CBT) has been billed as the ideal training technology. It has proven to cut training time by as much as 70%, with learning gains of over 50%. Experts agree that there are definite advantages and disadvantages to using this type of training and further emphasize that it is not for everyone. The authors discuss the pros and cons of using Computer Based Training and identify the types of individuals best suited to take this type of training. Up front costs may seem high, so how can the cost be justified? Is a CBT program that incorporates all the bells and whistles really needed? The authors examine the different types of CBT programs available and identify the ones most likely to provide a cost-effective solution to the existing training problems. CBT for prerequisite, review training and combined with instructor led sessions are also discussed. Finally, the authors look at what the future holds for Computer Based Training. <<ETX>>
Inventory Management for Mobile Money Agents in the Developing World

Mobile money systems, platforms built and managed by mobile network operators to allow money to be stored as digital currency, have burgeoned in the developing world as a mechanism to transfer money electronically. Mobile money agents exchange cash for electronic value and vice versa, forming the backbone of an emerging electronic currency ecosystem that has potential to connect millions of poor and “unbanked” people to the formal financial system. Unfortunately, low service levels due to agent inventory management are a major impediment to the further development of these ecosystems. This paper describes models for the agent’s inventory problem, unique in that sales of electronic value (cash) correspond to an equivalent increase in inventory of cash (electronic value). This paper presents a base inventory model and an analytical heuristic that are used to determine optimal stocking levels for cash and electronic value given an agent’s historical demand. When tested with a large sample of transaction-level data provided by an East African mobile operator, both the base model and the heuristic improved agent profitability by reducing inventory costs (defined here as the sum of stockout losses and cost of capital associated with holding inventory). The heuristic increased estimated agent profits by 15% relative to profits realized through agents actual decisions, while also offering substantial computational advantages relative to the base model.
Stacked 3-dimensional 6T SRAM cell with independent double gate transistors

A stacked three-dimensional six transistor SRAM cell using a novel vertical slit field effect transistor with two independently controlled gates is proposed. A compact stacked 3D memory cell topology with a highly regular layout is presented and a significant memory cell area reduction can be achieved. Utilization of independent double gate transistors enhances the robustness for read and write operation. The trade-off for the use of independently controlled gates to increase the cell stability is discussed.
Association mapping of Ug99 resistance in a diverse durum wheat population

Pozniak CJ, Reimer S, Fetch T , Clarke JM , Clarke FR , Somers D, Knox RE , and Singh AK 3 1 Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N 5A8. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Cereal Research Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3T-2M9. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Semi-arid Prairie Agriculture Research Centre, Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada, S9H 3X2
Clinical Utility of Molecular Biomarkers in Cervical Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions in a Young Adult Population

Objective Although human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is necessary for cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL/CIN) and cancer to develop, exposure to HPV is not predictive of which women will develop SIL/CIN and cancer. This study examines mRNA expression of several potential biomarkers in exfoliated cervical cells collected from college-aged women. Materials and Methods Freshman female students were recruited into the Carolina Women's Care Study, which was designed to prospectively evaluate factors that contribute to persistent HPV infections. One component of this study was to extract mRNA from exfoliated cervical cells. In this study, mRNA expression of Frizzled (FZD), growth differentiating factor 15, interleukin 1 beta (IL1&bgr;), and N-cadherin was assessed through real-time polymerase chain reaction. Statistical analysis was performed with a Student t test; all results were standardized with glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Results Fifty samples were selected that reflected the demographics of the Carolina Women's Care Study participants. IL1&bgr; mRNA expression was 9.4-fold higher in cervical cells from women with abnormal Pap tests (p = .0018); low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion had 12.7-fold higher expression than negatives (p = .0011). The FZD mRNA expression was 5.7-fold higher in CIN 2 as compared with CIN 1 (p = .0041) and 8.5-fold higher compared with cytology/pathology negative (p = .0014). Other differences in mRNA expression showed trends but not reaching statistical significance for each condition. Conclusions It seems that several biomarkers involved in the cytokine/inflammatory pathway (IL1&bgr;), cell adhesion pathway (N-cadherin), growth factor (growth differentiating factor 15), and Wingless (WNT) signaling pathway (FZD) may be potential biomarkers in conjunction with the Pap test and HPV that help predict which women are at highest risk for developing CIN 3 and cervical cancer.
A coarse-to-fine active contour tracking method based on target distribution

When human recognizes an object, whole appearance is firstly observed, and then the details in each part are recognized. Following this process, we propose a coarse-to-fine active contour tracking method based on target's distribution. Firstly, a kind of new energy model based on target's distribution is used as the active contour energy model; using this energy model the curve can describe the target more exactly. Then, we improve the curve evolution for active contour. In our method, the tracking is divided into two coarse tracking and fine tracking. Firstly step, the contour moves to the target around quickly by global translation, this is the step of coarse tracking; after the global translation, the curve start to change the shape to fit the boundary of the target, this is the step of fine location. Experiments show that this coarse-to-fine active contour can track the target in complex scene effectively and accurately.
Memory Processing Unit for in-memory processing

Performance and energy of modern computers, usually built as von Neumann machines, are primarily limited by data transfer from the memory to the CPU and vice versa. Only a true non-von Neumann architecture, where data is processed and stored within the same unit can remove this bottleneck. Using emerging non-volatile resistive memory technologies (namely, memristors) enables the development of Memory Processing Unit (MPU) - a novel non-von Neumann architecture. MPU relies on adding computing capabilities to the memristive memory cells without changing the basic memory array structure, and is compatible with existing computing systems. This paper describes the MPU architecture and examines its controller.