Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Atorvastatin on Habitual Physical Activity among Healthy Adults.

PURPOSE Statin therapy can result in muscle pain, cramps, and weakness that may limit physical activity, although reports are mixed. We conducted a randomized control trial to examine the effect of atorvastatin on habitual physical activity levels in a large sample of healthy adults. METHODS Participants (n = 418) were statin-naive adults (44.0 ± 16.1 yr (mean ± SD)) who were randomized and double-blinded to 80 mg · d(-1) of atorvastatin or placebo for 6 months. Accelerometers were worn for 96 h before and after drug treatment. Repeated-measures analysis tested physical activity levels after versus those before drug treatment among groups with age and VO2max as covariates. RESULTS In the total sample, sedentary behavior increased (19.5 ± 5.1 min · d(-1)), whereas light-intensity (9.1 ± 3.0 min · d(-1)) and moderate-intensity (9.7 ± 2.8 min · d(-1)) physical activity decreased, as did total activity counts (17.8 ± 6.3 d × 10(-3)) over 6 months (P < 0.01), with no differences between groups. The atorvastatin group increased sedentary behavior (19.8 ± 7.4 min · d(-1)) and decreased light-intensity (10.7 ± 4.3 min · d(-1)) and moderate-intensity (8.5 ± 4.0 min · d(-1)) physical activity (P < 0.05). On the other hand, the placebo group increased sedentary behavior (19.2 ± 7.1 min · d(-1)) and decreased moderate-intensity (11.0 ± 3.8 min · d(-1)) and total physical activity counts (-23.8 ± 8.8 × 10(-3) d(-1)) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Time being sedentary increased and physical activity levels decreased in the total sample over 6 months of drug treatment, independent of group assignment. Our results suggest that statins do not influence physical activity levels any differently from placebo, and the lack of inclusion of a placebo condition may provide insight into inconsistencies in the literature.
The Geographic Distribution of Genetic Risk as Compared to Social Risk for Chronic Diseases in the United States

There is an association between chronic disease and geography, and there is evidence that the environment plays a critical role in this relationship. Yet at the same time, there is known to be substantial geographic variation by ancestry across the United States. Resulting geographic genetic variation—that is, the extent to which single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to chronic disease vary spatially—could thus drive some part of the association between geography and disease. We describe the variation in chronic disease genetic risk by state of birth by taking risk SNPs from genome-wide association study meta-analyses for coronary artery disease, diabetes, and ischemic stroke and creating polygenic risk scores. We compare the amount of variability across state of birth in these polygenic scores to the variability in parental education, own education, earnings, and wealth. Our primary finding is that the polygenic risk scores are only weakly differentially distributed across U.S. states. The magnitude of the differences in geographic distribution is very small in comparison to the distribution of social and economic factors and thus is not likely sufficient to have a meaningful effect on geographic disease differences by U.S. state.
Modeling Expressing on Demonstrating

: We can increase our understanding of expression by considering an analogy to demonstrative reference. The connections between a demonstrative phrase and its referent, in a case of fully successful communication with that phrase, are analogous to the connections between an expressible state and the behavior that expresses it. The connections in each case serve to maintain a certain status for the connected elements: as actions of persons; or as objects, events, or states significant to persons. The analogy to demonstrative reference helps show that a positive account of expression can make conceptual connections between expressed states and expressive behaviors without courting reductive behaviorism. A general account of expression as marked by these connections is compared to accounts of expression offered by Dorit Bar-On and Mitchell Green. Bar-On’s account turns out to be compatible with the account proposed here, once some of its consequences are fully appreciated. Green’s account rules out, as not expressive, some behaviors like crouching (in fear) that intuitively seem expressive. When Green’s account is altered to allow such behaviors back in, the resulting account also fits the one proposed.
Susceptibility to stress induced visceral hypersensitivity in maternally separated rats is transferred across generations

In irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), familial clustering and transfer across generations may largely depend on environmental factors but this is difficult to establish in the human setting. Therefore, we aimed to set up a relevant animal model. We investigated whether susceptibility to stress induced visceral hypersensitivity in maternally separated (MS) Long Evans rats can be transferred across generations without further separation protocols and, if so, whether this depends on maternal care.
A Genetic Algorithm Approach to Time Series Models with Thresholds in Two Domains

A new threshold time series model is proposed, whose submodels are extended from AR to SARIMA and whose domains having thresholds are extended to two. By these two extensions, the newly proposed models would offer more flexibility to piecewisely approximate nonstationary time series by a finite number of local stationary models. Genetic algorithm is applied to simultaneously search for appropriate model structures, estimate the optimal model coefficients, as well as to partition space by finding appropriate thresholds. The resulting model is applied to a synthetic multi-frequency sine wave and two financial time series with improved modeling quality. The proposed model is also applied for seismogram analysis to recognize earthquake wave pattern in order to locate arrival time of different waves.
Fortifying Citizenship: Policy Strategies for Civic Integration in Western Europe

Why have European states introduced mandatory integration requirements for citizenship and permanent residence? There are many studies comparing integration policy and examining the significance of what has been interpreted as a convergent and restrictive "civic turn," a "retreat from multiculturalism," and an "inevitable lightening of citizenship. " None of these studies, however, has puzzled over the empirical diversity of integration policy design or presented systematic, comparative explanations for policy variation. This article is the first to develop an argument for what, in fact, amounts to a wealth of variation in civic integration policy (including scope, sequencing, and difficulty). Using a historical institutionalist approach, the author argues that states use mandatory integration to address different membership problems, which are shaped by both existing citizenship policy (whether it is inclusive or exclusive) and political pressure to change it (in other words, the politics of citizenship). She illustrates this argument by focusing on three case studies, applying the argument to a case of unchallenged restrictive retrenchment and continuity (Denmark), to a case of negotiated and thus moderated restriction (Germany), and to a case that recently exhibited both liberal continuity (the United Kingdom, 2001–6) and failed attempts at new restriction (the United Kingdom, 2006–10). These cases show that although states may converge around similar mandatory integration instruments, they may apply them for distinctly different reasons. As a result, new requirements augment rather than alter the major contours of national citizenship policy and the membership association it maintains.
Heavy drinking and problems among wine drinkers.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to see whether adults who drank wine exclusively would have lower quantity-frequency scores, less intoxication and fewer alcohol-related problems than those who drank other types of alcohol. METHOD Data were analyzed from a national survey of the use of alcohol and other drugs conducted in Canada in 1994 (N = 8,758). RESULTS Wine only drinkers were less often intoxicated than other drinkers. They also had lower quantity-frequency scores and reported fewer alcohol-related problems than other drinkers. These results were maintained when age, gender and quantity-frequency were taken into account. CONCLUSIONS Wine only drinkers drink less than other types of drinkers and have fewer problems. As wine is often drunk with meals there is probably more social control over drinking. Also, since wine drinkers drink with meals their blood alcohol concentrations may be lower.
Multiple-Locus Sequence Typing Analysis of Bacillus cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis Reveals Separate Clustering and a Distinct Population Structure of Psychrotrophic Strains

ABSTRACT We used multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to characterize phylogenetic relationships for a collection of Bacillus cereus group strains isolated from forest soil in the Paris area during a mild winter. This collection contains multiple strains isolated from the same soil sample and strains isolated from samples from different sites. We characterized 115 strains of this collection and 19 other strains based on the sequences of the clpC, dinB, gdpD, panC, purF, and yhfL loci. The number of alleles ranged from 36 to 53, and a total of 93 allelic profiles or sequence types were distinguished. We identified three major strain clusters—C, T, and W—based on the comparison of individual gene sequences or concatenated sequences. Some less representative clusters and subclusters were also distinguished. Analysis of the MLST data using the concept of clonal complexes led to the identification of two, five, and three such groups in clusters C, T, and W, respectively. Some of the forest isolates were closely related to independently isolated psychrotrophic strains. Systematic testing of the strains of this collection showed that almost all the strains that were able to grow at a low temperature (6°C) belonged to cluster W. Most of these strains, including three independently isolated strains, belong to two clonal complexes and are therefore very closely related genetically. These clonal complexes represent strains corresponding to the previously identified species Bacillus weihenstephanensis. Most of the other strains of our collection, including some from the W cluster, are not psychrotrophic. B. weihenstephanensis (cluster W) strains appear to comprise an effectively sexual population, whereas Bacillus thuringiensis (cluster T) and B. cereus (cluster C) have clonal population structures.
Practical Approach to Nutritional Support of the Dysphagic Foal

Coordinating suckle-swallow and breathing activities requires a complex integration of motor and sensory signaling. This ability is only partly perfected in the newborn, and disease can disrupt this process easily, resulting in hypophagia or dysphagia. Nutritional support is an important component in the treatment of the sick foal, whether the animal is an orphan or accompanied by its dam. Indwelling feeding tubes designed for use in the equine neonate facilitate the delivery of enteral nutrition to foals that have developed dysphagia due to a variety of diseases. Providing nutrition through the enteral route is a relatively safe and inexpensive method of supporting the dysphagic neonate through its disease process. Careful management of the feeding tube and diet is essential to prevent complications such as enteritis or aspiration pneumonia in the foal. Author’s address: Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Duck Pond Drive, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0442; e-mail: bmax@vt.edu. © 2012 AAEP.
The world of the autistic child.

Want to get experience? Want to get any ideas to create new things in your life? Read world of the autistic child now! By reading this book as soon as possible, you can renew the situation to get the inspirations. Yeah, this way will lead you to always think more and more. In this case, this book will be always right for you. When you can observe more about the book, you will know why you need this.
Fine Topography of Brain Areas Activated by Cold Stress

Neuronal activity in response to acute cold exposure was mapped in the central nervous system of adult rats using Fos immunostaining. A single, 3-hour exposure to cold elicited strong Fos-like immunoreactivity in the medial preoptic nucleus that is known as the thermoregulatory center of the brain. By this technique, pontine and medullary thermosensitive areas have been first localized and outlined anatomically. The medullary thermosensitive neurons occupy well-demarcated areas immediately ventral and dorsal to the spinal trigeminal nucleus, termed peritrigeminal and paratrigeminal nuclei, respectively. Cold-sensitive neurons were present in the dorsal part of the pontine reticular formation. Topographically, this area corresponds to the ‘pontine thermoregulatory area’, named on the basis of neurophysiological observations. In addition, thermosensitive neurons were found in the rostral thalamus and zona incerta. Several cell groups that showed strong Fos-like immunoreactivity in our previous pain-related stress experiments were also activated by cold exposure. The midline thalamic, hypothalamic dorsomedial, supramamillary and lateral parabrachial nuclei were targets of cold stress-induced noxious stimuli. Fos-positive neurons established specific topographical patterns in the paraventricular, arcuate, central amygdaloid nuclei, and the nucleus of the solitary tract. The possible involvement of central noradrenergic neurons in stress response to acute cold exposure was investigated by double immunostaining for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and Fos. None of the tyrosine hydroxylase positive neurons in the brain stem established Fos-like immunoreactivity, suggesting that the central noradrenergic system may have a minor, if any, role in cold-induced stress responses. Based on the topographical distribution of Fos-activated neurons, this study suggests that in addition to the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, some other stress effector systems may play an important role in the maintenance of homeostasis during cold stress.
A practical realisation of kNN indoor positioning model for GSM

Positioning in public land mobile networks has become increasingly popular over the past years with the development of more sophisticated mobile equipment and standards. New services which rely on location information have been developed, such as emergency call localization, navigation, location sensitive commercials/ billing, etc. This paper investigates one practical realisation of an indoor positioning model for GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) networks, based on the received signal strength (RSS) and fingerprinting method.
Characteristics and Biodegradability of Wastewater Organic Matter in Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants Collecting Domestic Wastewater and Industrial Discharge

Municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Korea collect and treat not only domestic wastewater, but also discharge from industrial complexes. However, some industrial discharges contain a large amount of non-biodegradable organic matter, which cannot be treated properly in a conventional biological WWTP. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics and biodegradability of the wastewater organic matter contained in the industrial discharges and to examine the fate of the industrial discharges in a biological WWTP. In contrast to most previous studies targeting a specific group of organic compounds or traditional water quality indices, such as biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), this study was purposed to quantify and characterize the biodegradable and nonbiodegradable fractions of the wastewater organic matter. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) fractionation tests and fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that the industrial discharge from dyeing or pulp mill factories contained more non-biodegradable soluble organic matter than did the domestic wastewater. Statistical analysis on the WWTPs’ monitoring data indicated that the industrial discharge containing non-biodegradable soluble organic matter was not treated effectively in a biological WWTP, but was escaping from the system. Thus, industrial discharge that contained non-biodegradable soluble organic matter was a major factor in the decrease in biodegradability of the discharge, affecting the ultimate fate of wastewater organic matter in a biological WWTP. Further application of COD fractionation and fluorescence spectroscopy to wastewaters, with various industrial discharges, will help scientists and engineers to better design and operate a biological WWTP, by understanding the fate of wastewater organic matter.
Does the use of Oxytocin in the Third Stage of Labour have an Impact on Breastfed Babies Health? Looking for a Viable Alternative

Synthetic oxytocin (SynOT) (Pitocin®, Syntocinon®) is a drug that is used regularly to prevent and to care post partum haemorrhage in childbirth. On the other hand oxytocin (OT) is also an important mediator of life processes; it has been defined “the Great Facilitator of Life”. OT may affect behaviors and physiology to facilitate the propagation of species. Previous studies suggest there is likely to be a high level of OT in the first feed of colostrum after a woman has received SynOT for this purpose. This apparently transient exposure could have direct effects on the immunological development of the infant gut as, at this stage of life, the gut is particularly sensitive to OT and is pivotal in the development of the infant’s immune system. The complexities of the developing immune system are only just being exposed, however, the notion that many autoimmune diseases may develop from this period is increasingly well accepted. From an epigenetic point of view, the establishment of a suitable commensal biome and exposure to appropriate antigens is essential in this postnatal period. Furthermore, in the perinatal period, there are times of particular sensitivity in which the correct receptor/hormone ratio develops. If the initial ratio is incorrect, the receptor/hormone ratio may be damaged throughout the whole life of the individual, this is the called ‘Faulty Perinatal Hormonal Imprinting’. Another mechanism through which this process could take place is genomic imprinting. These complex developmental processes are critical to the ongoing health of the infant and are likely to be affected by the amount of SynOT introduced in the first feed. For these and other reasons it is important to evaluate different drugs to reduce postpartum haemorrhage in low-risk women. With this goal in mind we are currently testing tranexamic acid for post partum haemorrhage prophylaxis. This review explains the main reasons why, based on the principle of prudence, it is important to evaluate different drugs from oxytocin for prophylaxis of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). This article presents conceptual arguments and empirical facts in support of this hypothesis.
Psychometric Characteristics of the Parenting Scale in a Head Start Population

Examined the reliability, construct, and concurrent validity of the Parenting Scale (PS), a brief instrument designed to measure dysfunctional parenting practices for parents of young children. In Study 1, 183 primarily African American mothers and their Head Start children completed the PS. The PS, which consists of 3 subscales-Laxness, Overreactivity, and Verbosity-was subjected to confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Neither the original 3-factor structure, nor a 2-factor structure consisting of the original Laxness and Overreactivity factors, fit the data. A subsequent exploratory factor analysis yielded a 2-factor solution that was generally consistent with the Overreactivity and Laxness subscales identified by Arnold, O'Leary, Wolff, and Acker (1993). The 2-factor CFA solution was replicated with a sample of 216 similar mothers, and the 5-item Overreactivity and Laxness subscales retained internal consistencies above . 70. Analysis of the convergent validity of the modified PS and its 2 subscales revealed moderate associations with measures of permissiveness, authoritarianism, involvement, and limit setting. Scores on the PS were not correlated significantly with measures of social desirability, maternal education level, or parent report of internalizing behavior problems. Concurrent validity evidence was obtained by correlating the PS with measures of parenting satisfaction and support, parenting stress, maternal depression, and measures of externalizing child behavior problems.
Transitivity of ergative case-marking predicates in Japanese

In this article, I argue that ergative case-marking predicates in Japanese, which take two non-canonically case-marked arguments, are best described as transitive predicates having subjects and direct objects, rather than as intransitive predicates without any direct objects — contrary to Shibatani’s recent proposal (Shibatani 1999, 2001a, b, Shibatani and Pardeshi 2001). More specifically, ergative case-marking predicates are argued to be transitive, as originally conceived by Kuno (1973) and others, on the basis that outer dative/nominative phrases display subject properties, while inner nominative phrases exhibit positive object properties. Furthermore, it is argued that ergative case-marking constructions do not constitute a sub-type of double subject construction by showing that they are licensed in a different way.
Antibiotic prophylaxis after endoscopic therapy prevents rebleeding in acute variceal hemorrhage: A randomized trial

Bacterial infection may adversely affect the hemostasis of patients with gastroesophageal variceal bleeding (GEVB). Antibiotic prophylaxis can prevent bacterial infection in such patients, but its role in preventing rebleeding is unclear. Over a 25‐month period, patients with acute GEVB but without evidence of bacterial infection were randomized to receive prophylactic antibiotics (ofloxacin 200 mg i.v. q12h for 2 days followed by oral ofloxacin 200 mg q12h for 5 days) or receive antibiotics only when infection became evident (on‐demand group). Endoscopic therapy for the GEVB was performed immediately after infection work‐up and randomization. Fifty‐nine patients in the prophylactic group and 61 patients in the on‐demand group were analyzed. Clinical and endoscopic characteristics of the gastroesophageal varices, time to endoscopic treatment, and period of follow‐up were not different between the two groups. Antibiotic prophylaxis decreased infections (2/59 vs. 16/61; P < .002). The actuarial probability of rebleeding was higher in patients without prophylactic antibiotics (P = .0029). The difference of rebleeding was mostly due to early rebleeding within 7 days (4/12 vs. 21/27, P = .0221). The relative hazard of rebleeding within 7 days was 5.078 (95% CI: 1.854–13.908, P < .0001). The multivariate Cox regression indicated bacterial infection (relative hazard: 3.85, 95% CI: 1.85–13.90) and association with hepatocellular carcinoma (relative hazard: 2.46, 95% CI: 1.30–4.63) as independent factors predictive of rebleeding. Blood transfusion for rebleeding was also reduced in the prophylactic group (1.40 ± 0.89 vs. 2.81 ± 2.29 units, P < .05). There was no difference in survival between the two groups. In conclusion, antibiotic prophylaxis can prevent infection and rebleeding as well as decrease the amount of blood transfused for patients with acute GEVB following endoscopic treatment. (HEPATOLOGY 2004;39:746–753.)