pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Associations between obesity and cognition in the pre-school years

The objective was to test the hypothesis that obesity is associated with impaired cognitive outcomes in the pre-school years. Associations were examined between weight status at age 3-5 years and cognitive performance at age 5 years. Cognitive outcome measures were tests of Pattern Construction (visuo-spatial skills), Naming Vocabulary (expressive language skills), and Picture Similarity (reasoning skills). The sample was the UK Millennium Cohort Study (MCS; n 12,349 participants). Boys with obesity at 3 years had significantly lower performance in Pattern Construction at age 5 years compared to those of a healthy weight, even after controlling for confounders (β= -0.029, p=0.03). Controlling for confounders, boys who developed obesity between the age of 3 and 5 years had lower scores in Pattern Construction (β=-0.03, p=0.03). ’Growing out’ of obesity had a beneficial impact on Picture Similarity performance in girls (β=0.03, p=0.04). Obesity in the pre-school years was associated with poorer outcomes for some cognitive measures in this study. Stronger relationships between obesity and cognition or educational attainment may emerge later in childhood
Dietary fat restriction increases fat taste sensitivity in people with obesity

<b>OBJECTIVE:</b> Individuals with obesity may be less sensitive to the taste of fat, and it is hypothesized that this is due to excess dietary fat intake. This study assessed the effect of a 6-week low-fat (LF) or portion control (PC) diet matched for weight loss on fat taste thresholds, fat perception, and preference in people with overweight/obesity. <br /><br /><b>METHODS:</b> Participants (n&thinsp;=&thinsp;53) completed a randomized dietary intervention and consumed either a LF diet (25% fat) or PC diet (33% fat) for 6 weeks. Fat taste thresholds (lowest detectable fat concentration), fat perception (discrimination ability), preference, and anthropometry were assessed at baseline and week 6. <br /><br /><b>RESULTS:</b> Consumption of a LF diet (n&thinsp;=&thinsp;26) and PC diet (n&thinsp;=&thinsp;27) reduced participants\u27 weight (P&thinsp;&lt;&thinsp;0.001), with no significant differences between groups (LF, -2.9%, PC, -2.7%). Both diets resulted in a decrease in fat taste thresholds (P&thinsp;=&thinsp;0.014), and the effect tended to be stronger in the LF diet vs. the PC diet (P&thinsp;=&thinsp;0.060). The ability to perceive different fat concentrations in foods was increased after the LF diet only (P&thinsp;=&thinsp;0.017); however, food preference did not change on either diet. <br /><br /><b>CONCLUSIONS:</b> A PC and LF diet both increase fat taste sensitivity in people with overweight/obesity, with the strongest effect after the LF diet
Physical activity attenuates the effect of the FTO genotype on obesity traits in European adults :
                    The Food4Me study

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Carlos Celis-Morales, et al, ???Physical activity attenuates the effect of the FTO genotype on obesity traits in European adults: The Food4Me study???, Obesity, Vol. 24 (4): 962-969, April 2016, which has been published in final form at DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.21422. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the effect of FTO loci on obesity-related traits could be modified by physical activity (PA) levels in European adults. METHODS: Of 1,607 Food4Me participants randomized, 1,280 were genotyped for FTO (rs9939609) and had available PA data. PA was measured objectively using accelerometers (TracmorD, Philips), whereas anthropometric measures [BMI and waist circumference (WC)] were self-reported via the Internet. RESULTS: FTO genotype was associated with a higher body weight [??: 1.09 kg per risk allele, (95% CI: 0.14-2.04), P???=???0.024], BMI [??: 0.54 kg m(-2) , (0.23-0.83), P???<???0.0001], and WC [??: 1.07 cm, (0.24-1.90), P???=???0.011]. Moderate-equivalent PA attenuated the effect of FTO on BMI (P[interaction] ???=???0.020). Among inactive individuals, FTO increased BMI by 1.06 kg m(-2) per allele (P???=???0.024), whereas the increase in BMI was substantially attenuated among active individuals (0.16 kg m(-2) , P???=???0.388). We observed similar effects for WC (P[interaction] ???=???0.005): the FTO risk allele increased WC by 2.72 cm per allele among inactive individuals but by only 0.49 cm in active individuals. CONCLUSIONS: PA attenuates the effect of FTO genotype on BMI and WC. This may have important public health implications because genetic susceptibility to obesity in the presence of FTO variants may be reduced by adopting a physically active lifestyle
Regionalization of browning revealed by whole subcutaneous adipose tissue imaging

Objective: White and brown adipose tissues play a major role in the regulation of metabolic functions. With the explosion of obesity and metabolic disorders, the interest in adipocyte biology is growing constantly. While several studies have demonstrated functional differences between adipose fat pads, especially in their involvement in metabolic diseases, there are no data available on possible heterogeneity within an adipose depot. Methods: This study investigated the three-dimensional (3-D) organization of the inguinal fat pad in adult mice by combining adipose tissue clearing and autofluorescence signal acquisition by confocal microscopy. In addition, the study analyzed the expression of genes involved in adipocyte biology and browning at the mARN and protein levels in distinct areas of the inguinal adipose tissue, in control conditions and\ud
after cold exposure. Results: Semiautomated 3-D image analysis revealed an organization of the fat depot showing two regions: the core was structured into segmented lobules, whereas the periphery appeared unsegmented. Perilipin immunostaining showed that most of the adipocytes located in the core region had smaller lipid droplets, suggesting a brown-like phenotype. qPCR analysis showed a higher expression of the browning markers Ucp1, Prdm16, Ppargc1a, and Cidea in the core region than at the periphery. Finally, cold exposure\ud
induced upregulation of thermogenic gene expression associated with an increase of UCP1 protein, specifically in the core region of the inguinal fat depot.\ud
Conclusions: Altogether, these data demonstrate a structural and functional heterogeneity of the inguinal fat pad, with an anatomically restricted browning process in the core area
Child dietary and eating behavior outcomes up to 3.5 years after an early feeding intervention: The NOURISH RCT

<b>Objective</b>\ud
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 - To evaluate dietary intake impact outcomes up to 3.5 years after the <i>NOURISH</i> early feeding intervention (concealed allocation, assessor masked RCT). \ud
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<b>Methods</b>\ud
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 - 698 first-time mothers with healthy term infants were allocated to receive anticipatory guidance on protective feeding practices or usual care. Outcomes were assessed at 2, 3.7 and 5 years (3.5 years post-intervention). Dietary intake was assessed by 24-hour recall and Child Dietary Questionnaire. Mothers completed a food preference questionnaire and Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. Linear mixed models assessed group, time and time x group effects. \ud
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<b>Results</b>\ud
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 - There were no group or time x group effects for fruit, vegetables, discretionary food and non-milk sweetened beverages intake. Intervention children showed a higher preference for fruits (74.6% vs 69.0% liked, P<.001), higher Child Dietary Questionnaire score for fruit and vegetables (15.3 vs 14.5, target>18, P=0.03), lower food responsiveness (2.3 vs 2.4, of maximum 5, P=.04) and higher satiety responsiveness (3.1 vs 3.0, of maximum 5, P=.04). \ud
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<b>Conclusions</b>\ud
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 - Compared to usual care, an early feeding intervention providing anticipatory guidance regarding positive feeding practices led to small improvements in child dietary score, food preferences and eating behaviours up to 5 years of age, but not in dietary intake measured by 24-hour recall
Early Weight Loss with Liraglutide 3.0 mg Predicts 1-Year Weight Loss and is Associated with Improvements in Clinical Markers.

OBJECTIVE: To identify an early response criterion for predicting ≥5% weight loss with liraglutide 3.0 mg at week 56 and to compare efficacy outcomes in early responders (ERs) and early nonresponders (ENRs). METHODS: Using pooled data from the SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes and SCALE Diabetes trials, weight loss of ≥4% at 16 weeks best predicted ≥5% weight loss after 56 weeks. Weight loss and changes in cardiometabolic risk factors and health-related quality of life were evaluated in ERs (≥4% weight loss at week 16) and ENRs (<4% weight loss at week 16) completing 56 weeks' treatment. RESULTS: Proportions of ERs/ENRs to liraglutide 3.0 mg were 77.3%/22.7% (individuals without type 2 diabetes, T2D) and 62.7%/37.3% (those with T2D). Greater mean weight loss was observed in ERs versus ENRs: 10.8% versus 3.0% (without T2D) and 8.5% versus 3.1% (T2D). In both trials, greater proportions of ERs versus ENRs achieved ≥5%, >10%, and >15% weight loss at week 56 with liraglutide 3.0 mg. Greater improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors and health-related quality of life scores were observed in ERs versus ENRs. CONCLUSIONS: The early response criterion was clinically useful to identify individuals who would achieve clinically meaningful weight loss at 56 weeks.Funded by Novo Nordisk A/SPeer-reviewedPublisher Versio
Reduced expression of chemerin in visceral adipose tissue associates with hepatic steatosis in patients with obesity

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate whether circulating levels and/or visceral adipose tissue (VAT) expression of recently described adipokines associate with histopathological severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), independent of obesity and insulin resistance. 
Methods: Serum levels of adiponectin, omentin, chemerin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and secreted frizzled-related protein 4 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 81 patients with obesity and NAFLD and 18 lean control subjects. Expression in VAT was measured using real-time PCR and histopathological grading was scored using the NAFLD activity score (NAS). 
Results: When NAFLD patients were subdivided into groups with simple steatosis, borderline nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and NASH, adiponectin serum levels and omentin expression were lower in NASH versus simple steatosis patients. Serum adiponectin was generally lower with higher histopathological grading. Chemerin VAT expression was negatively associated with NAS (r = -0.331, P = 0.022) and steatosis score (r = -0.335, P = 0.020), independent of age, BMI, and HOMA-IR. In addition, adjusting for chemerin VAT expression in a multivariate model explained part of the association between NAS and HOMA-IR. 
Conclusions: These findings suggest that lower VAT expression of chemerin in patients with obesity may be involved in the pathophysiology of hepatic steatosis, potentially by modulating the link between insulin resistance and NAFLD
Does diet mediate associations of volume and bouts of sedentary time with cardiometabolic health indicators in adolescents?

Examine the mediating role of diet in the relationship between volume and duration of sedentary time with cardiometabolic health in adolescents. Adolescents (12-19 years) participating in the 2003/04 and 2005/06 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were examined. Cardiometabolic health indicators were body mass index z-scores (zBMI) (n = 1,797) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) (n = 812). An ActiGraph hip-worn accelerometer was used to derive total sedentary time and usual sedentary bout duration. Dietary intake was assessed using two 24-hour dietary recalls. Mediation analyses were conducted to examine five dietary mediators [total energy intake, discretionary foods, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), fruits and vegetables, and dietary quality] of the relationship between total sedentary time and usual sedentary bout duration with zBMI and MetS. Total sedentary time was inversely associated with zBMI (&beta; = -1.33; 95% CI -2.53 to -0.13) but attenuated after adjusting for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. No significant associations were observed between usual sedentary bout duration with zBMI or either sedentary measure with MetS. None of the five dietary variables mediated any of the relationships examined. Further studies are needed to explore associations of specific time periods (e.g., after school) and bout durations with both cardiometabolic health indicators and dietary behaviors
Trends in Obesity, Overweight, and Thinness in Children in the Seychelles Between 1998 and 2016.

This study assessed trends in the prevalence of children and adolescents with obesity, overweight, and thinness in the Seychelles, a rapidly developing nation in the Indian Ocean, and changes in the distribution of BMI over time.
Between 1998 and 2016, examination surveys were conducted every year in all students of four selected school grades (kindergarten, primary 4, secondary 1, and secondary 4) in all schools. We categorized BMI by using the International Obesity Task Force criteria.
Based on 70,187 observations, the prevalence of combined overweight or obesity increased largely and monotonically between 1998 and 2016, from 8.9% to 20.0% in boys and from 12.3% to 23.6% in girls, but the prevalence of underweight did not decrease. BMI increased mostly in the upper range of the BMI population distribution: percentile 5 (P5), -1.7%; P10, -0.8%; P25, 0.3%; P50, 2.5%; P75, 7.4%; P90, 12.7%; and P95, 13.3%.
The distribution of BMI was increasingly skewed, with a rising prevalence of obesity, a modest or null increase in BMI in a substantial proportion of the population, and a continued burden of underweight. Further studies should assess child growth trajectories and their underlying determinants, which may bear significance for weight control strategies
Normalization of plus size and the danger of unseen overweight and obesity in England

Objective: This study aimed to investigate trends and sociodemographic factors underlying weight misperception in adults with overweight and obesity in England.\ud
Methods: This study used descriptive and logistic regression analyses based on a pooled nationally representative cross-sectional survey, Health Survey for England, for the years 1997, 1998, 2002, 2014, and 2015 of individuals with BMI>25 (n523,459). The main outcomes were (1) weight misperception and (2) weight-loss attempts as well as the associations with demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and health status.\ud
Results: The proportion of individuals with overweight and obesity misperceiving their weight status increased over time between 1997 and 2015 (37% to 40% in men; 17% to 19% in women). There were socioeconomic disparities in the misperception of weight status, with lower-educated individuals from poorer-income households and members of minority ethnic groups being more likely to underestimate their weight. Those underestimating their overweight and obesity status were 85% less likely to try to lose weight compared with people who accurately identified their weight status.\ud
Conclusions: The upward trend in underassessment of overweight and obesity status in England is possibly a result of the normalization of overweight and obesity. Obesity prevention programs need to consider differential sociodemographic characteristics associated with underassessment of weight status
Normalization of Plus Size and the Danger of Unseen Overweight and Obesity in England

Objective: This study aimed to investigate trends and sociodemographic factors underlying weight misperception in adults with overweight and obesity in England. Methods: This study used descriptive and logistic regression analyses based on a pooled nationally representative cross‐sectional survey, Health Survey for England, for the years 1997, 1998, 2002, 2014, and 2015 of individuals with BMI ≥ 25 (n = 23,459). The main outcomes were (1) weight misperception and (2) weight‐loss attempts as well as the associations with demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and health status. Results: The proportion of individuals with overweight and obesity misperceiving their weight status increased over time between 1997 and 2015 (37% to 40% in men; 17% to 19% in women). There were socioeconomic disparities in the misperception of weight status, with lower‐educated individuals from poorer‐income households and members of minority ethnic groups being more likely to underestimate their weight. Those underestimating their overweight and obesity status were 85% less likely to try to lose weight compared with people who accurately identified their weight status. Conclusions: The upward trend in underassessment of overweight and obesity status in England is possibly a result of the normalization of overweight and obesity. Obesity prevention programs need to consider differential sociodemographic characteristics associated with underassessment of weight status
A viability theory approach to a two-stage optimal control problem

A two-stage control problem is one, in which model parameters (“technology”) might be changed at some time. An optimal solution to utility maximisation for this class of problems needs to thus contain information on the time, at which the change will take place (0, finite or never) as well as the optimal control strategies before and after the change. For the change, or switch, to occur the “new technology” value function needs to dominate the “old technology” value function, after the switch. We charaterise the value function using the fact that its hypograph is a viability kernel of an auxiliary problem and study when the graphs can intersect and hence whether the switch can occur.
Using this characterisation we analyse a technology switching problem.
Influence of a new discrete-time LQR-based motion cueing on driving simulator

This study proposes a method and an experimental validation to analyze dynamics response of the simulator's cabin and platform with respect to the type of the control used in the hexapod driving simulator. In this article, two different forms of motion platform tracking control are performed as a classical motion cueing algorithm and a discrete-time linear quadratic regulator (LQR) motion cueing algorithm. For each situation, vehicle dynamics and motion platform level data are registered from the driving simulation software. In addition, the natural frequencies of the roll accelerations are obtained in real-time by using FFT. The data are denoised by using wavelet 1D transformation. The results show that by using discrete-time LQR algorithm, the roll acceleration amplitudes that correspond to the natural frequencies and the total roll jerk have decreased at the motion platform level. Also, the natural frequencies have increased reasonably by using the discrete LQR motion cueing (1.5–2.2 Hz) compared with using the classical algorithm (0.4–1.5 Hz) at the motion platform, which is an indicator of motion sickness incidence avoidance. The literature shows that lateral motion (roll, yaw, etc.) in the frequency range of 0.1–0.5 Hz induces motion sickness. Furthermore, using discrete-time LQR motion cueing algorithm has decreased the sensation error (motion platform–vehicle (cabin) levels) two times in terms of total roll jerk. In conclusion, discrete-time LQR motion cueing has reduced the simulator sickness more than the classical motion cueing algorithm depending on sensory cue conflict theory.Arts et Metiers ParisTech built up the SAAM driving simulator with the partnership of Renault and Grand Chalon. This research was realized in the framework of the geDRIVER project
Optimization-Based Autonomous Racing of 1:43 Scale RC Cars

This paper describes autonomous racing of RC race cars based on mathematical
optimization. Using a dynamical model of the vehicle, control inputs are
computed by receding horizon based controllers, where the objective is to
maximize progress on the track subject to the requirement of staying on the
track and avoiding opponents. Two different control formulations are presented.
The first controller employs a two-level structure, consisting of a path
planner and a nonlinear model predictive controller (NMPC) for tracking. The
second controller combines both tasks in one nonlinear optimization problem
(NLP) following the ideas of contouring control. Linear time varying models
obtained by linearization are used to build local approximations of the control
NLPs in the form of convex quadratic programs (QPs) at each sampling time. The
resulting QPs have a typical MPC structure and can be solved in the range of
milliseconds by recent structure exploiting solvers, which is key to the
real-time feasibility of the overall control scheme. Obstacle avoidance is
incorporated by means of a high-level corridor planner based on dynamic
programming, which generates convex constraints for the controllers according
to the current position of opponents and the track layout. The control
performance is investigated experimentally using 1:43 scale RC race cars,
driven at speeds of more than 3 m/s and in operating regions with saturated
rear tire forces (drifting). The algorithms run at 50 Hz sampling rate on
embedded computing platforms, demonstrating the real-time feasibility and high
performance of optimization-based approaches for autonomous racing
Model predictive and linear quadratic Gaussian control of a wind turbine

Model predictive and linear quadratic Gaussian controllers are designed for a 5MW variable-speed pitch-regulated wind turbine for three operating points – below rated wind speed, just above rated wind speed, and above rated wind speed. The controllers are designed based on two different linear dynamic models (at each operating point) of the same wind turbine to study the effect of utilising different control design models (i.e. the model used for designing a model-based controller) on the control performance. The performance of the LQG controller is enhanced by improving the robustness, achieved by replacing the Kalman filter with a modified Luenberger observer, whose gain is obtained to minimise the effect of uncertainty and disturbance
Stochastic model predictive control approaches applied to drinking water networks

Control of drinking water networks is an arduous task, given their size and the presence of uncertainty in water demand. It is necessary to impose different constraints for ensuring a reliable water supply in the most economic and safe ways. To cope with uncertainty in system disturbances due to the stochastic water demand/consumption and optimize operational costs, this paper proposes three stochastic model predictive control (MPC) approaches, namely, chance-constrained MPC, tree-based MPC, and multiple-scenario MPC. A comparative assessment of these approaches is performed when they are applied to real case studies, specifically, a sector and an aggregate version of the Barcelona drinking water network in Spain.Peer ReviewedPreprin