Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An update of the KIDMED questionnaire, a Mediterranean Diet Quality Index in children and adolescents

Abstract Objective: The KIDMED questionnaire was published in 2004 to evaluate adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) in children and adolescents. In the last 14 years, several respected official dietetics and health organizations have recommended appropriate dietary habits, including eating whole grains and consuming whole fruit rather than fruit juice. We propose an update of the KIDMED questionnaire. Design: Based on the scientific evidence, the present commentary suggests some changes to the KIDMED questionnaire. Results: We suggest deleting ‘or fruit juice’ from the first question of the questionnaire, rewording the question as ‘Takes a fruit every day’, and assigning a positive value of +1. We suggest adding ‘whole-grain’ to the eighth question of the questionnaire, rewording the question as ‘Consumes whole-grain pasta or whole-grain rice almost every day (5 or more times per week)’, and assigning a positive value of +1. Further, we propose to add ‘whole cereals or whole grains’ to the ninth question of the questionnaire, reword the question as ‘Has whole cereals or whole grains (whole-meal bread, etc.) for breakfast’, and assign a positive value of +1. Conclusions: The present commentary examines some signs of a paradigm shift about fruit juice and whole grains after the development of the KIDMED questionnaire. The changes are of paramount importance in order to make the questionnaire an updated tool to evaluate adherence to the MD.
Trajectories of Pain Intensity Over 1 Year in Adults With Disabling Subacute or Chronic Neck Pain

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to describe the 1-year trajectories of disabling subacute or persistent neck pain and to investigate whether baseline age, sex, pain characteristics, and depressive symptoms are associated with such trajectories. Study Design and Setting: Participants (n=617) included in a randomized controlled trial provided weekly pain intensity ratings by responding to text messages over 1 year. We used latent class mixed model analyses to identify clusters of individual trajectories. Thereafter, we used logistic regression to determine the association between baseline age, sex, pain characteristics, depressive symptoms and treatment, and trajectories of neck pain. Results: Six different clusters of trajectories were identified. Most participants (73%) followed a trajectory of decreasing pain throughout follow-up. The remaining experienced unfavorable trajectories: persistent pain of high intensity (22%) and slightly (3%) or highly (2%) fluctuating levels of pain reaching high levels of pain intensity. Pain intensity at baseline: odds ratio (OR): 3.76 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.49-5.68), depressive symptoms: OR: 3.46 (95% CI: 2.01-5.95), younger age: OR: 2.29 (95% CI: 1.48-3.54), female sex: OR: 1.51 (95% CI: 1.01-2.26), and sudden onset of pain: OR: 1.74 (95% CI: 1.13-2.69) were associated with unfavorable trajectories. Conclusions: Most individuals with disabling subacute or chronic neck pain show improvement in pain intensity over a year. However, a quarter present unfavorable trajectories. High pain intensity at baseline, depressive symptoms, younger age, female sex, and sudden onset of pain are factors associated with unfavorable trajectories.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Long Non-Coding RNAs and Coding Genes Uncovers a Complex Regulatory Network That Is Involved in Maize Seed Development

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to be involved in the development of maize plant. However, few focused on seed development of maize. Here, we identified 753 lncRNA candidates in maize genome from six seed samples. Similar to the mRNAs, lncRNAs showed tissue developmental stage specific and differential expression, indicating their putative role in seed development. Increasing evidence shows that crosstalk among RNAs mediated by shared microRNAs (miRNAs) represents a novel layer of gene regulation, which plays important roles in plant development. Functional roles and regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) in plants, particularly in maize seed development, are unclear. We combined analyses of consistently altered 17 lncRNAs, 840 mRNAs and known miRNA to genome-wide investigate potential lncRNA-mediated ceRNA based on “ceRNA hypothesis”. The results uncovered seven novel lncRNAs as potential functional ceRNAs. Functional analyses based on their competitive coding-gene partners by Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG biological pathway demonstrated that combined effects of multiple ceRNAs can have major impacts on general developmental and metabolic processes in maize seed. These findings provided a useful platform for uncovering novel mechanisms of maize seed development and may provide opportunities for the functional characterization of individual lncRNA in future studies.
Performance improvement of triple band truncated spiked triangular patch antenna

In this paper, the design of a novel triple band triangular microstrip patch antenna with inset feed is proposed. The triangular patch is designed for a resonant frequency of 2 GHz. The inset feed is placed at a depth of 1/3rd of height from the bottom of the patch for improved return loss. The insertion of two slots and two tabs causes the antenna to resonate at multiple frequencies. The proposed antenna resonates at three frequencies: 1.939 GHz, 2.515 GHz and 3.212 GHz. The truncation of the edges of the patch and the tabs improves the gain and directivity of the antenna.
Intracellular signaling in M‐CSF‐induced microglia activation: Role of Iba1

Microglia are reactively activated by various environmental stimulations caused by brain injury or disease. Activated microglia exhibit morphological transformation, proliferation, migration, phagocytosis, and the production of bioactive molecules. Various molecules are reported and suggested to activate microglia. Among them, macrophage‐colony‐stimulating factor (M‐CSF) is considered one of the most convincing candidates responsible for maintaining activation properties of microglia. Therefore, the focus of the present study is on intracellular molecular events that arise downstream of M‐CSF stimulation. M‐CSF activates its receptor, Fms tyrosine kinase, and Fms sequentially activates a number of signaling molecules, including PI3K or phospholipase Cγ (PLCγ). Stimulation of continuing signaling cascades results in the activation of a small GTPase, Rac, the key molecule in microglia activation. Rac is known to be activated downstream of receptor tyrosine kinases and to regulate reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, which profoundly underlies the above‐mentioned properties of activated microglia. Iba1, a macrophage/microglia‐specific calcium‐binding protein, was identified by our group and was shown to be involved in the Rac signaling pathway. Further, we introduce a novel signaling pathway in which Rac is activated, dependent on PLCγ and Iba1. However, to understand the molecular details of microglia activation, future work is required. GLIA 40:164–174, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ten-year experience with percutaneous bone-anchored hearing aids: a 3- to 10-year follow-up Markham Stouffville Hospital, 1990 to 2000.

Patients with bilateral conductive hearing losses continue to be a source of frustration for both otologists and audiologists. Efforts to rehabilitate their hearing have included medical and surgical treatment, as well as the use of conventional hearing aids and, less frequently, conventional bone-conduction hearing aids. In the late 1980s, a percutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) developed by Dr. A. Tjellström, as an offshoot of Dr. P. I. Brånemark's work on osseointegration of titanium and bone, became commercially available. The BAHA has become a high-performing, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing sound processor. The results of a 10-year BAHA program based at Markham Stouffville Hospital are summarized. In particular, a retrospective review of the 76 patients implanted between 1990 and 1997 is reported (i.e., a 3- to 10-year follow-up). Recent innovations to the design of the BAHA will be described that will further improve the quality of life for these patients.
Bridging the Gap in Gestational Diabetes: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Improving GDM Using a Chronic Care–Based Clinical Framework

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects 2 to 10% of pregnancies and is associated with a 35 to 60% chance of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the proceed-ing 10 to 20 years. 1 Women with GDM are at increased risk for preeclampsia and cesarean delivery, and are more likely to have recurrence of GDM in subsequent pregnancies. 2 – 5 Neonates born to mothers with GDM are more likely to have shoulder dystocia, neonatal hypoglycemia, birth trauma, hyperbilirubinemia, large for gestational age, and spend time in the neonatal intensive care unit. 3,6 Incidence has increased with increasing obesity, as well as with racial/ ethnic health disparities, with minority women at highest risk of GDM and subsequent T2DM. 7 – 9 In the 3 months after birth, many patients are lost to follow-up because of varia-tion in practice standards and inadequate coordination between obstetrics during pregnancy and primary care following delivery. 10
Dual-Band Meander Monopole Antenna for WLAN Operation in Laptop Computer

A very small-size (10 × 6 × 0.4 mm ) uniplanar meandered monopole antenna that is fed by a 50-Ω mini-coaxial cable for laptop computer applications is proposed. To achieve dual-band 2.4/5-GHz wireless local area network (WLAN) operation, a protruded tuning stub is introduced into the meandered monopole structure. The achieved 10-dB bandwidths of the lower and upper operating bands in free-space condition are 12% (2360-2660 MHz) and 20% (4870-5960 MHz), respectively. Further experimental studies are also conducted by mounting the proposed antenna onto an actual laptop computer that works as the host platform.
Glycemic Index of Slowly Digestible Carbohydrate Alone and in Powdered Drink-Mix

Consumer interest in food and beverages with carbohydrates offering steady glucose release and lower glycemic index (GI) continues to rise. Glycemic index is one of the metrics for carbohydrate quality. Slowly digestible carbohydrates (SDC) offer an ingredient solution to improve carbohydrate quality and meet consumer needs. SUSTRATM 2434 slowly digestible carbohydrate is a blend of tapioca flour and corn starch. The study objective was to determine the glycemic index of the SDC ingredient alone and in a powdered drink-mix. In a randomized, single-blind study, heathy adults (n = 14) consumed four test drinks, delivering 50 g available carbohydrates on separate days to measure GI. Participants either consumed dextrose in water (placebo), SDC ingredient in water, SDC drink-mix powder reconstituted in skim milk, or control drink-mix reconstituted in skim milk (without SDC). Post-prandial glucose response was measured over 4 h. SDC exhibited lower GI (0–2 h) and higher steady glucose release (beyond 2 h). SDC alone (GI = 27) and SDC in drink-mix (GI = 30.3) showed significantly lower GI (−27%) compared to dextrose (100) and the control drink-mix (41.5). SUSTRATM 2434 SDC is a low glycemic ingredient, suitable for product innovations with potential for low glycemic and steady glucose release claims.
Linear control of the “buck” converter with unknown resistive loads

This article describes the design of an observer-based, robust, linear output feedback controller for the regulation, and output reference trajectory tracking tasks, in switched “buck” converter circuits with completely unknown, time-varying, resistive loads. The disturbance effects of the unknown load resistance are on-line estimated by means of a Generalized Proportional Integral (GPI) observer, which represents the dual counterpart of Generalized Proportional Integral controllers, introduced in Fliess et al. [3]. The reconstructed disturbance complements the controller in a cancelation effort which allows the feedback controller to become a traditional PD controller. The designed average feedback controller is then implemented via a ∑-Δ-modulator, which effectively translates the designed continuous average feedback control input signal into a discrete valued switched input signal driving the converter's input switch and preserving all relevant features of the average design. The appendix collects some generalities about GPI observers.
Scalp Biopsy and Diagnosis of Common Hair Loss Problems

Alopecia can be either scarring or non-scarring. Non-scarring alopecias tend to have preserved follicular ostia, with no clinically visible inflammation in most presentations, although histologic inflammation may be present. The common types of non-scarring alopecias are androgenic alopecia, telogen effluvium, alopecia areata, trichotillomania and traction alopecia. Scarring alopecias, also known as cicatricial alopecia, refers to a collec‐ tion of hair loss disorders that have loss of follicular ostia, or atrophy, with permanent and irreversible destruction of hair follicles and their replacement with scar tissue. The histologic confirmation is the best method to confirm the presence of a fibrosing/scarring process with loss of hair follicles.
Evaluation of pressurized liquid extraction for the determination of neonicotinoid pesticides in green onion

Abstract A pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) method was presented for the determination of six neonicotinoid pesticides, acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam in green onion. The critical parameters of PLE, e.g. extraction solvent, temperature, pressure, number of cycles, and static extraction time, were optimized by test on the spiked green onion with six neonicotinoids and the incurred green onion applied with four commercial neonicotinoid insecticide formulations (acetamiprid, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam). As a result, the recoveries of six neonicotinoids obtained by one cycle PLE with acetonitrile at 140 °C and 50 bar for 10 min were 94.7–99.5%. These results were acceptable according to the validation guideline for testing method of agricultural chemicals in food by Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare in Japan. PLE was also validated by the test on the incurred green onion. The analytical values of four neonicotinoids obtained by PLE were good agreement with those obtained by solid–liquid extraction with homogenizer, which is employed for Japanese official method for the analysis of pesticide residues in food (the ratios of analytical values obtained by PLE to those obtained by solid–liquid extraction were 99.7–101.2%). These results indicate that PLE is applicable for the determination of neonicotinoids in green onion.
Recovery of Rare Earth Elements by Carbon-Based Nanomaterials—A Review

Modern societies depend strongly on electronic and electric equipment (EEE) which has a side effect result on the large production of electronic wastes (e-waste). This has been regarded as a worldwide issue, because of its environmental impact—namely due to non-adequate treatment and storage limitations. In particular, EEE is dependent on the availability of rare earth elements (REEs), considered as the “vitamins” of modern industry, due to their crucial role in the development of new cutting-edge technologies. High demand and limited resources of REEs in Europe, combined with potential environmental problems, enforce the development of innovative low-cost techniques and materials to recover these elements from e-waste and wastewaters. In this context, sorption methods have shown advantages to pre-concentrate REEs from wastewaters and several studies have reported the use of diverse nanomaterials for these purposes, although mostly describing the sorption of REEs from synthetic and mono-elemental solutions at unrealistic metal concentrations. This review is a one-stop-reference by bringing together recent research works in the scope of the application of carbon nanomaterials for the recovery of REEs from water.
Can a leukocyte depletion filter (LDF) reduce the risk of reintroduction of hepatocellular carcinoma cells?

During liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, HCC could theoretically be introduced into the systemic circulation when salvaged blood is used with an autotransfusion device. Several reports have shown that some types of leukocyte depletion filters (LDFs) could completely reduce the risk for reintroducing some types of tumor cells. In this study, we tested the ability of the LDF (RCEZ1T, Pall Biomedical Co, NY, USA) to reduce the risk for reintroducing HCC cells in vitro by using a very sensitive detection method. We divided the test group into 6 groups: group I was 10 cells, group II was 20 cells, group III was 2 × 103 cells, group IV was 2 × 105 cells, group V was 2 × 106 cells, and group VI was 2 × 107 cells. The counted cells in 200 mL saline were passed through the RCEZ1T using the force of gravity. To identify the presence of cells, the pellet was resuspended, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed. Glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), a housekeeping gene, was used as a primer. In groups I and II, the HCC cells were completely filtered in all experiments. However, in groups III, IV, and V, the HCC cells were not completely filtered in a few of the repeated experiments, with the unfiltered rate of tumor cells being between 8% and 20%. In group VI, the HCC cells were not completely filtered in all the repeated experiments. In conclusion, the RCEZ1T filter markedly reduced the risk for reintroduction of HCC cells. However, at high HCC cell load the filter cannot completely remove all the tumor cells. Further studies are required to assess the impact in clinical settings. (Liver Transpl 2005;11:331–335.)
Donor metabolic characteristics drive effects of faecal microbiota transplantation on recipient insulin sensitivity, energy expenditure and intestinal transit time

Objective Bariatric surgery improves glucose metabolism. Recent data suggest that faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) using faeces from postbariatric surgery diet-induced obese mice in germ-free mice improves glucose metabolism and intestinal homeostasis. We here investigated whether allogenic FMT using faeces from post-Roux-en-Y gastric bypass donors (RYGB-D) compared with using faeces from metabolic syndrome donors (METS-D) has short-term effects on glucose metabolism, intestinal transit time and adipose tissue inflammation in treatment-naïve, obese, insulin-resistant male subjects. Design Subjects with metabolic syndrome (n=22) received allogenic FMT either from RYGB-D or METS-D. Hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity as well as lipolysis were measured at baseline and 2 weeks after FMT by hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic stable isotope (2H2-glucose and 2H5-glycerol) clamp. Secondary outcome parameters were changes in resting energy expenditure, intestinal transit time, faecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and bile acids, and inflammatory markers in subcutaneous adipose tissue related to intestinal microbiota composition. Faecal SCFA, bile acids, glycaemic control and inflammatory parameters were also evaluated at 8 weeks. Results We observed a significant decrease in insulin sensitivity 2 weeks after allogenic METS-D FMT (median rate of glucose disappearance: from 40.6 to 34.0 µmol/kg/min; p<0.01). Moreover, a trend (p=0.052) towards faster intestinal transit time following RYGB-D FMT was seen. Finally, we observed changes in faecal bile acids (increased lithocholic, deoxycholic and (iso)lithocholic acid after METS-D FMT), inflammatory markers (decreased adipose tissue chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) gene expression and plasma CCL2 after RYGB-D FMT) and changes in several intestinal microbiota taxa. Conclusion Allogenic FMT using METS-D decreases insulin sensitivity in metabolic syndrome recipients when compared with using post-RYGB-D. Further research is needed to delineate the role of donor characteristics in FMT efficacy in human insulin-resistant subjects. Trial registration number NTR4327.
On the Design of a New Simulated Inductor Using a Contactless Electrical Tomography System as an Example

This work reports a new simulated inductor which is suitable for a Contactless Electrical Tomography (CET) system and can effectively overcome the unfavorable influence of coupling capacitance on the measurement results. By detailed analysis and comparison, it is found that the grounded simulated inductor has a simple circuit construction but its output current is not equal to its input current, while the floating simulated inductor can be used as an independent inductor module but its circuit structure is relatively complex. A new simulated inductor is designed by compensating the currents from the common node of an introduced independent power source to the main circuit. The new simulated inductor combines the advantages of the grounded simulated inductor and the floating simulated inductor. It has the simple construction similar to that of the grounded simulated inductor and its input current is equal to the output current, which means it can be used as an independent module. The impedance measurement and practical image reconstruction experiments were carried out to verify the effectiveness of the new simulated inductor. The experimental results show that the design of the new simulated inductor is successful, and the performance of the impedance measurement is satisfactory. The signal-to-noise ratio of the CET system is improved. Meanwhile, the research work also indicates that in the case when the independent power source is not available, the new simulated inductor is also an effective alternative method. But the phase difference between input signal and output signal is approximately 90° when the elimination principle is realized.
Bright artificial light-at-night is associated with increased body mass, poor reproductive success, and compromised disease tolerance in Australian budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus).

Artificial light-at-night (ALAN) can cause circadian disruption and result in adverse behavioral and ecological effects in free-living birds, but studies on captive pet birds as companion animals have been infrequent. We studied the effects of exposure to bright ALAN on body mass, melatonin sulfate levels, reproduction, and disease severity in Australian budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) kept in captivity. During the experiment, birds were kept under outdoor temperature, humidity, and natural photoperiod from September to December. 48 birds were equally split into four groups (6 mating pairs each) and concurrently exposed to ALAN of 200 lux with different duration (0, 30, 60, and 90 min). Monthly observations were recorded for all dependent parameters. ALAN exposure increased mass gain and suppressed melatonin levels in a dose-dependent manner, especially during December. In addition, ALAN exposure in all duration groups decreased egg production and reduced hatchability from 61±14% in the ALAN-unexposed control group to 0% in the ALAN-exposed birds. Disease severity was also found to increase in line with the duration of ALAN exposure. In captive M. undulatus, ALAN exposure was demonstrated to affect photoperiodic regulation with subsequent excess mass gain, reproduction impairment, and increased susceptibility to infections plausibly through duration dose-dependent suppression of melatonin. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate a possible association between acute bright ALAN of increasing duration and both natural development of infections as well as reproductive cessation in captive birds. Our findings could be used to improve breeding conditions of captive birds. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.