Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shift work and the risk of diabetes mellitus among Japanese male factory workers.

OBJECTIVES This study investigated whether shift work is a risk factor for the development of diabetes mellitus. METHODS The workers, 2860 men in a sash and zipper factory in the Toyama prefecture of Japan, were followed for 8 years, and the incidence rate of diabetes mellitus was determined. The cohort contained fixed daytime blue-collar workers, shift blue-collar workers, and white-collar workers. The workers were considered to have diabetes mellitus if, in their annual health examination, they had a glycated hemoglobin level of > or = 6.1 or if the diagnosis had been made by a hospital physician. The relative risks were estimated by Cox's proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS Among the 2860 workers, there were 87 cases of new-onset diabetes mellitus, resulting in an incidence rate of 4.41 per 1000 person-years. The age-adjusted incidence was highest for the two-shift workers and lowest for the white-collar workers. The relative risk of diabetes mellitus for the two-shift workers and the three-shift workers compared with the fixed daytime workers was 1.73 and 1.33, respectively, after adjustment for all the confounding factors, but these values were not statistically significant. When the white-collar workers were used as a reference group, a significantly increased risk of diabetes mellitus was found for the two-shift workers (relative risk was 2.01 after adjustment for all confounding factors), but not for the three-shift workers or the fixed daytime blue-collar workers. CONCLUSIONS The study suggests that shift work is a risk factor for the onset of diabetes mellitus and that there is a different risk associated with different shift schedules.
Knowledge Elites and Modernization: Evidence from Revolutionary France

This paper examines the role of knowledge elites in modernization. At the eve of the French Revolution, in the spring of 1789, King Louis XVI solicited lists of grievances (Cahiers de Doleances), in which the public could express complaints and suggestions for reforms of the Ancien Regime. We show that the demand for mass education and democratization was particularly high in regions that had a thick knowledge elite, measured by subscribers to the famous Encyclopedie in the 1770s. Historical evidence suggests that this pattern is driven by the spirit of enlightenment of French knowledge elites. Pre-revolution literacy, in contrast, is not correlated with demand for mass education or with the density of knowledge elites. After the French Revolution, knowledge elites played a key role in implementing schooling reforms at the local level. We show that by the mid-19th century, schooling rates were significantly higher in regions with thicker knowledge elites. The same is true of other proxies for modernization, such as association membership, Republican votes, and the share of French-speaking pupils. Our results highlight an important interaction between local culture (the spirit of enlightenment) and nation-wide institutions in economic development: the French Revolution opened a window of opportunity for local elites to pursue their agenda of modernization.
Quantitative Dual-Energy Computed Tomography Supports a Vascular Etiology of Smoking-induced Inflammatory Lung Disease.

RATIONALE Endothelial dysfunction is of interest in relation to smoking-associated emphysema, a component of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We previously demonstrated that computed tomography (CT)-derived pulmonary blood flow (PBF) heterogeneity is greater in smokers with normal pulmonary function tests (PFTs) but who have visual evidence of centriacinar emphysema (CAE) on CT. OBJECTIVES We introduced dual-energy CT (DECT) perfused blood volume (PBV) as a PBF surrogate to evaluate whether the CAE-associated increased PBF heterogeneity is reversible with sildenafil. METHODS Seventeen PFT-normal current smokers were divided into CAE-susceptible (SS; n = 10) and nonsusceptible (NS; n = 7) smokers, based on the presence or absence of CT-detected CAE. DECT-PBV images were acquired before and 1 hour after administration of 20 mg oral sildenafil. Regional PBV and PBV coefficients of variation (CV), a measure of spatial blood flow heterogeneity, were determined, followed by quantitative assessment of the central arterial tree. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS After sildenafil administration, regional PBV-CV decreased in SS subjects but did not decrease in NS subjects (P < 0.05), after adjusting for age and pack-years. Quantitative evaluation of the central pulmonary arteries revealed higher arterial volume and greater cross-sectional area (CSA) in the lower lobes of SS smokers, which suggested arterial enlargement in response to increased peripheral resistance. After sildenafil, arterial CSA decreased in SS smokers but did not decrease in NS smokers (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that sildenafil restores peripheral perfusion and reduces central arterial enlargement in normal SS subjects with little effect in NS subjects, highlighting DECT-PBV as a biomarker of reversible endothelial dysfunction in smokers with CAE.
Ultrastructure of the esthesioneuroblastoma

A tumor in the anatomic location and with the light microscopic appearance of an esthesioneuroblastoma was examined with the electron microscope. Secretory‐type granules, cytoplasmic fibrils, and microtubules similar to those described in neuroblastomas were found in many of the tumor cells, which supports an origin from the sympathetic autonomic nervous system. Similar organelles were found in three other nasal tumors considered to be esthesioneuroblastomas, but their detail was obscured because they were examined after being initially processed in paraffin.
Liver-directed therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer

ABSTRACT Introduction: Colorectal cancer is a significant global health issue with over 1 million cases diagnosed annually throughout the world. 15% of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer will have liver metastases and 60% will develop liver metastases if they have metastatic disease. Oligometastatic colorectal cancer confined to the liver represents an intermediate state in the evolution of metastatic capacity that opens the opportunity for local interventions. Areas covered: The literature supports long-term survival if patients undergo liver resection of colorectal metastases. This article reviews the liver-directed therapeutic strategies available for the management of metastatic liver disease including hepatic arterial infusion therapy, radiofrequency ablation, radiation therapy and transarterial chemoembolization. Expert commentary: Great advances have been made with the use of liver directed therapies. In the USA using hepatic arterial infusions with FUDR and Decadron along with systemic therapy, 5 year survivals after liver resection have improved. In Europe with the use of HAI of Oxaliplatin, more patients have been able to get to resection and have obtained higher survival rates, even in second line therapy. New advances in ablative therapy have improved results to get all disease treated at resection for the treatment of reccurrence
Twin Nonlinear Two-Box Models for Power Amplifiers and Transmitters Exhibiting Memory Effects With Application to Digital Predistortion

In this paper, a new class of models, named twin nonlinear two-box (TNTB) models, is proposed for modeling and digital predistortion of power amplifiers and transmitters exhibiting memory effects. The forward, reverse, and parallel TNTB models are introduced. These models enable a more general modeling of nonlinear distortions and memory effects in comparison with previously reported behavioural models. The models' performance is assessed experimentally for a high power Doherty amplifier driven by multi-carrier WCDMA signals. The modeling and predistortion results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed models when compared to the well established memory polynomials. Indeed, the proposed models lead to the same performance as memory polynomial models while reducing the number of parameters by approximately 50%. Definitely, only 24 parameters were required to accurately model and linearize a highly nonlinear Doherty power amplifier driven by a 20 MHz wide multi-carrier signal. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the lowest complexity model/digital predistorter reported for similar context.
Assessment of asthma control in a general population of asthmatics*

ABSTRACT Background: Asthma control is typically assessed by review of symptoms and measurement of airflow obstruction by clinic spirometry or outpatient peak flow. Recently the role of questionnaires to assess asthma control has been discussed. Study objective: To investigate the frequency of asthma control in the general population using the Asthma Control Test ([ACT], ACT is a trademark of QualityMetric, Lincoln RI) and force expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). Research design and methods: Subjects with self-reported physician diagnosed asthma or use of asthma prescription medications attending community or sporting events were asked to complete the five-question ACT and to perform spirometry. Subjects with an ACT score of ≤ 19 and/or an FEV1 of < 80% predicted were classified as having not well controlled (NWC) asthma. Results: 2702 subjects completed both the ACT and spirometry. ACT scores ≤ 19 were recorded in 27% and FEV1 < 80% predicted was noted in 26% of subjects evaluated. ACT and/or lung function was in the NWC range for 43% of subjects; 10% of subjects had both an ACT score ≤ 19 and an FEV1 < 80% and 16–17% had either an ACT score ≤ 19 or a FEV1 < 80%. Conclusion: A considerable portion (43%) of subjects with self-reported asthma in the general population was identified with NWC. In addition, the use of ACT and spirometry were equally effective methods to identify NWC asthma.
Low-crosstalk and compact optical add-drop multiplexer using a multiport circulator and fiber Bragg gratings

Three kinds of low-crosstalk and compact optical add-drop multiplexers (OADMs) based on a multiport optical circulator (MOC) with fiber Bragg gratings are proposed and demonstrated. For the MOC-based structure, there is a significant intraband crosstalk reduction of about 37 and 16 dB on the dropped and added channels, respectively, for the best proposed MOC-based structure as compared with the conventional structure. Bit-error rate performance and both intraband and interband crosstalk-induced power penalties of these MOC-based OADMs are examined in a 10 Gb/s system demonstration. Such a low-crosstalk, miniaturized, and compact OADM may find important applications in dense wavelength-division multiplexing networks.
Pancreatic β-cell function is a stronger predictor of changes in glycemic control after an aerobic exercise intervention than insulin sensitivity.

CONTEXT Understanding intersubject variability in glycemic control following exercise training will help individualize treatment. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to determine whether this variability is related to training-induced changes in insulin sensitivity or pancreatic β-cell function. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS We conducted an observational clinical study of 105 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes. INTERVENTIONS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Individual subject changes in fitness (VO2max), glycemia (glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting glucose, oral glucose tolerance test), insulin sensitivity (hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp), oral glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), and disposition index (DI) were measured following 12 to 16 weeks of aerobic exercise training. Regression analyses were used to identify relationships between variables. RESULTS After training, 86% of subjects increased VO2max and lost weight. Glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting glucose, and 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test were reduced in 69%, 62%, and 68% of subjects, respectively, while insulin sensitivity improved in 90% of the participants. Changes in glycemic control were congruent with changes in GSIS such that 66% of subjects had a reduction in first-phase GSIS, and 46% had reduced second-phase GSIS. Training increased first- and second-phase DI in 83% and 74% of subjects. Training-induced changes in glycemic control were related to changes in GSIS (P < .05), but not insulin sensitivity or DI, and training-induced improvements in glycemic control were largest in subjects with greater pretraining GSIS. CONCLUSIONS Intersubject variability in restoring glycemic control following exercise is explained primarily by changes in insulin secretion. Thus, baseline and training-induced changes in β-cell function may be a key determinant of training-induced improvements in glycemic control.
DIBR-synthesized image quality assessment based on local entropy analysis

The perceptual quality of Depth-Image-Based- Rendering (DIBR) synthesized images is essential for threedimensional video applications. However, traditional image quality assessment (IQA) algorithms almost unavailable for DIBR- synthesized images, because the specific types of distortions appeared in DIBR-synthesized images are rarely considered in traditional IQA algorithms. In this paper, a new full-reference image quality assessment (FR-IQA) algorithm is proposed to evaluate the quality of DIBR-synthesized images. The image local entropy is analyzed firstly dedicate to represent the new types of distortions in DIBR-synthesized image, then the local entropy similarity map between reference image and distorted image is calculated. Finally, the quality score of distorted image is computed from the similarity map of local energy. Experimental results show that our proposed method outperforms the conventional state-of-the-art FR-IQA algorithms on the IRCCyN/IVC DIBR images database.
Myocardial lipid accumulation and lipotoxicity in heart failure1

The syndrome of chronic heart failure is a systemic disease state with primary cardiac dysfunction that subsequently affects multiple organ systems. After the primary cardiac insult, the clinical course of the patient is affected by comorbidities and the underlying type of cardiomyopathy. The most common cause of heart failure in the United States is coronary artery disease. This proportion is rising due to improved survival of patients after myocardial infarction secondary to the success of coronary revascularization procedures but also because of the increasing number of patients with cardiac risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. The highly prevalent metabolic syndrome is a unifying clinical diagnosis that represents these abnormalities. Although the metabolic syndrome is a clinical constellation with higher risk for the development of cardiac disease, it also affects the clinical course of patients with established cardiac disease, e.g., coronary artery disease and heart failure.
Potassium and Rubidium Effluxes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract In growing cells, K+ and Rb+ effluxes followed first order kinetics, took place with slight differences between K+ and Rb+ and were stimulated at acidic pH values. In uncoupled cells and ATP-depleted cells, K+ efflux was higher than Rb+ efflux. In ATP-depleted cells, the effluxes were not stimulated at acidic pH values. Two different K+ effluxes are proposed: (i) the normal efflux, which may be a K+/H+ antiport and does not function in ATP-depleted cells, and (ii) the backward reaction of the uptake system, which can be high in depolarized cells. The role of the normal efflux system in K+ content and pH regulation is discussed.
A two year retrospective review of reasons for pediatric admission to Chiro Hospital, Eastern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND The health and well being of children is of a major importance. Even though much activity and effort is directed towards promoting children's health there is scarcity of information on child health morbidity in this country. The objective of this study was to review pediatric admission and discharge records of Chiro Hospital, East Ethiopia. METHOD A two-year retrospective record analysis of pediatric ward admission and discharge of Chiro hospital during September 2000 - August 2002 was conducted A record book of pediatric ward of the Hospital was reviewed using pre-tested format. The main diagnosis, cause of admission and death, personal characteristics and length of stay was included in the analysis. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 11. computer statistical software. RESULT Nine hundred and sixty three pediatric patients were admitted to the hospital within the two years Period. Most common diagnosis leading to pediatric admission were diseases of respiratory system 215 (22.9%) and infective and parasitic diseases (22.9%). The three most common infections: pneumonia 368 (39.2%), malaria 140 (14.9%) and tuberculosis 103 (10.9) were more common among male than female children, but no statistical difference was observed between the ten common infectious diseases and sex of the children (P>0.5). More death was observed in males 50 (5.3%) than females 32 (3.4%). Twenty-eight (34.2%) of the deaths occurred within 48 hours and (39.0%) died after 72 hours of admission. CONCLUSION The review showed that communicable diseases were the most common causes of admissions (61.3%) and the patterns of morbidity and mortality reflects those of developing countries that call for extensive preventive measures. In view of the limited duration of the study, further review taking five or ten year duration is recommended for planning and strengthen maternal and child health services.
Structural and Magnetic Behavior of Mn Doped Zno Synthesized By Soft Chemical Route

2 ABSTRACT: Nanocrystalline undoped and 5% Mn doped ZnO powders are synthesized by sol-gel route using constituent nitrate and citrate precursors. The physico-chemical characterizations of powders calcined at various temperatures (400-1100 ˚C), are performed using techniques (XRD and SQUID) to study structural, nano/microstructural, and magnetic properties. XRD patterns clearly revealed the evolution of major wurtzite (ZnO) and minor non-stoichiometric defect cubic spinel phase of ZnMnO3-. Unexpectedly, the magnetic hysteresis loop with its large magnetic parameters are observed at room temperature as soon as the concentration of the minor phase is large enough. The analysis of the unusual room temperature ferromagnetic behavior is presented in this communication based on the dominant contributions of the secondary nanocrystalline non-stoichiometric defect cubic spinel phase of ZnMnO3-.
A modified PI-like fuzzy logic controller for switched reluctance motor drive

Based on the redevelopment of control rule base, a modified type PI-like fuzzy logic controller with output scaling factor (SF) self-tuning mechanism is proposed and experimentally testified in this paper for application in the switched reluctance motor (SRM) drive system. This paper aims to simplify the structure hierarchy and computational complexity of the controller by reducing the number of fuzzy sets in the membership function (MF) but still without losing the system performance and stability. For the proposed controller, the output scaling factor can be tuned continuously by a gain updating factor, whose value is derived from the fuzzy logic reasoning with the error and change of error of the plant as the input variables. The rule base is built based on the practical understanding and knowledge of the SRM's basic dynamic behavior, operating mode and experimental experience. Various aspects of the design considerations about the membership function, rule base, and gain tuning strategy are described in detail. Experiments and results comparison carried out on a four phase 8/6 pole SRM based on the platform of dSPACE DS1104 control desk are given to show the feasibility and effectiveness of the devised methods as well as support the theoretical considerations.
Wear Compliance and Activity in Children Wearing Wrist- and Hip-Mounted Accelerometers.

PURPOSE This study aimed to 1) explore children's compliance to wearing wrist- and hip-mounted accelerometers, 2) compare children's physical activity (PA) derived from raw accelerations of wrist and hip, and 3) examine differences in raw and counts PA measured by hip-worn accelerometry. METHODS One hundred and twenty-nine 9- to 10-yr-old children wore a wrist-mounted GENEActiv accelerometer (GAwrist) and a hip-mounted ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer (AGhip) for 7 d. Both devices measured raw accelerations, and the AGhip also provided count-based data. RESULTS More children wore the GAwrist than those from the AGhip regardless of wear time criteria applied (P < 0.001-0.035). Raw data signal vector magnitude (r = 0.68), moderate PA (MPA) (r = 0.81), vigorous PA (VPA) (r = 0.85), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) (r = 0.83) were strongly associated between devices (P < 0.001). GAwrist signal vector magnitude (P = 0.001), MPA (P = 0.037), VPA (P = 0.002), and MVPA (P = 0.016) were significantly greater than those from the AGhip. According to GAwrist raw data, 86.9% of children engaged in at least 60 min · d(-1) of MVPA, compared with 19% for AGhip. ActiGraph MPA (raw) was 42.00 ± 1.61 min · d(-1) compared with 35.05 ± 0.99 min · d(-1) (counts) (P = 0.02). ActiGraph VPA was 7.59 ± 0.46 min · d(-1) (raw) and 37.06 ± 1.85 min · d(-1) (counts; P = 0.19). CONCLUSIONS In children, accelerometer wrist placement promotes superior compliance than the hip. Raw accelerations were significantly higher for GAwrist compared with those for AGhip possibly because of placement location and technical differences between devices. AGhip PA calculated from raw accelerations and counts differed substantially, demonstrating that PA outcomes derived from cut points for raw output and counts cannot be directly compared.
Mutual coupling reduction for MIMO CPW bow-tie aperture antennas

MIMO antennas are widely used in wireless communications because of their spectral efficiency for the total transmitted power. In this paper, a single antenna is used to design MIMO antenna array made of four identical planner bowtie antennas with reduced mutual coupling. Each antenna element in the array has 2 U shaped metal strips with fixed sizes and 4 rectangular metal strips with a fixed vertical dimensions and variable horizontal width. The resultant MIMO antenna can operate at 9.25 and 10.5 GHz frequency bands. The four antenna array elements are separated by two slot lines to reduce the mutual coupling among antennas. The performance for the proposed single and MIMO bowtie antennas is simulated using HFSS to obtain the return losses, impedances, radiation patterns, radiation efficiencies and current distributions. The results show that the loaded MIMO antennas have a very low mutual coupling without additional parasitic or reactive elements.