Weight Restrictions Research Articles

Gender network analysis of the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q7) in Peruvian adults.

network assessment of eating disorder (ED)-related symptomatology from a gender perspective is an important topic of study; however, there is limited research in the Latin American context. this study aimed to explore the patterns of association of the components of the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q7) according to gender, using two simultaneous network models in 890 Peruvian adults (63.51 % were women; mean age: 26.40). two graphs considering the gender factor were made using the R package qgrap and the merged LASSO graph. higher network centrality measures were obtained for items related to body image dissatisfaction and overvaluation in women; while in the men's network, the items of food restriction and overestimation of weight were the most central symptoms. both network models were invariant and showed no significant differences in both structure and connections.

Prognostic value of the middle cerebral to umbilical artery Doppler ratio in the prediction of outcomes in post-term pregnancy

Objective. To evaluate the diagnostic value of the middle cerebral artery to umbilical artery Doppler ratio (MCA/UA ratio) in predicting poor perinatal outcomes in post-term pregnancies. Patients and methods. This study included patients diagnosed with post-term pregnancy who were admitted to the maternity hospitals in Ain Shams University and Al-Azhar University between January 2019 and December 2021. All patients underwent color Doppler velocimetry and were divided into two groups based on the MCA/UA ratio values: group A (n = 100) – MCA/UA ratio <1, and group B (n = 100) – MCA/UA ratio ≥1. Outcome factors were admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, an Apgar score of less than 7 at 5 minutes, gestational age at delivery, birth weight, and intrauterine growth restriction. Results. The MCA/UA resistance index ratio (MCA-RI/UA-RI) with a cut-off value of 0.88 was found to be the most sensitive parameter in the prediction of adverse prenatal outcomes: sensitivity – 89%, specificity – 71%, positive predictive value (PPV) – 72%, negative predictive value (NPV) – 71%. All parameters combined showed a 93% sensitivity, 92% specificity, 92% PPV, and 89% NPV. Conclusion. To enhance obstetric outcomes and prevent unnecessary treatment and perinatal death, cerebroplacental ratio appears to be a helpful indication in predicting poor neonatal outcomes in post-term pregnancy. Key words: Doppler velocimetry, middle cerebral to umbilical artery ratio, post-term pregnancy

The correlation between stress response term babies with intrauterine growth restriction and adulthood disease theories.

Every year, 14 million babies are born with low birth weight (LBW) and/or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in developing countries. In Sudan, 15-25% of all newborns are born with LBW, with half being Term-LBW. The importance of nutrition in the first 1000 days of life has been well demonstrated. Evidence links IUGR to various health and developmental disorders, and intrauterine programming of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has been strongly suggested as a possible mechanism. Sudan has been listed among the lowest four countries regarding food security which has a massive impact on maternal and infant health. We hypothesize that infants who suffer from intrauterine growth retardation will have exaggerated physiological and behavioural responses to physical stressors. To compare T-LBW with T-NBW on (a) Salivary cortisol level at rest and after a physical stressor and (b) Behavioural response to physical stressors. Hospital-based matched case-control study. Cases were 65 T-LBW neonates, and controls were 67 T-NBW neonates matched for age 4-6 hours, gestational age, and mode of deliverymeasurements: Anthropometry, salivary samples for cortisol before and after heel prick, and behavioural ratings. Compared with controls, the IUGR neonates were lighter, shorter, and thinner (p <0.0001) and had lower basal cortisol levels (p <0.03). Following stressors, IUGR neonates had lower (p >0.0001) and inhibited cortisol response (p <0.02), and cried less vigorously (p <0.0001). All anthropometric measures were significantly and positively correlated with behavioural responses and pre- and post-stress cortisol levels. Stunting was more strongly associated with behavioural inhibition than wasting. The severity of intrauterine growth retardation correlated with behavioral and physiological inhibition, which can lead to the development of mismatch diseases such as allergies, autoimmune diseases, and conjunctive disorders.

Improving radio transmitter attachment methods for small mammals through captive trials and field studies

Radio tracking can be used to collect information about animal movement, home range, behaviour and habitat use. Many field studies have fitted radio transmitters to small rodents using permanent nylon cable tie collars and successfully collected movement and fate data. The approach to animal welfare within the context of scientific research prioritises minimising adverse effects on the research animals. Although a range of electronically activated release mechanisms exist in radio tracking collars for larger mammals, weight and size restrictions make these unsuitable for smaller animals (&lt;30 g). Our aim was to identify a radio transmitter model and attachment method of an appropriate size and weight that would remain attached to a house mouse (Mus musculus) for &gt;20 days to collect movement data – and then detach or show signs of detaching after 30 days. Laboratory and field trials identified that a cable tie collar with a cotton thread weak-link and customised radio transmitter was suitable for wild house mice in cropping paddocks. Glue-on methods did not stay attached for long enough to obtain more than a few days of tracking data.

Localized Simple Multiple Kernel K-Means Clustering with Matrix-Induced Regularization.

Multikernel clustering achieves clustering of linearly inseparable data by applying a kernel method to samples in multiple views. A localized SimpleMKKM (LI-SimpleMKKM) algorithm has recently been proposed to perform min-max optimization in multikernel clustering where each instance is only required to be aligned with a certain proportion of the relatively close samples. The method has improved the reliability of clustering by focusing on the more closely paired samples and dropping the more distant ones. Although LI-SimpleMKKM achieves remarkable success in a wide range of applications, the method keeps the sum of the kernel weights unchanged. Thus, it restricts kernel weights and does not consider the correlation between the kernel matrices, especially between paired instances. To overcome such limitations, we propose adding a matrix-induced regularization to localized SimpleMKKM (LI-SimpleMKKM-MR). Our approach addresses the kernel weight restrictions with the regularization term and enhances the complementarity between base kernels. Thus, it does not limit kernel weights and fully considers the correlation between paired instances. Extensive experiments on several publicly available multikernel datasets show that our method performs better than its counterparts.

Intermittent fasting and protein pacing are superior to caloric restriction for weight and visceral fat loss.

This study compared intermittent fasting and protein pacing (IF-P) versus a heart-healthy caloric restriction (CR) diet, matched for energy intake and physical activity energy expenditure, on body weight, total and visceral fat mass, and cardiometabolic health outcomes in adults with obesity. IF-P (n=21) and CR (n=20) were assessed pre- (week 0), mid- (week 5), and post- (week 9) intervention. Both groups reduced (p < 0.05) weight, total and visceral fat mass, blood pressure and lipids, and desire to eat food and increased proportion of fat-free mass. IF-P resulted in greater (p < 0.05) reductions in weight (-9% vs. -5%), total (-16% vs. -9%) and visceral (-33% vs. -14%) fat mass, and desire to eat (-17% vs. 1%) and increased fat-free mass percent (6% vs. 3%) compared with CR. These improvements were despite similar weekly total energy intake (IF-P, 9470 ± 550 vs. CR, 9095 ± 608 kcal/wk; p=0.90) and physical activity energy expenditure (IF-P, 300 ± 150 vs. CR, 350 ± 200 kcal/d; p=0.79). IF-P and CR optimize weight loss, body composition, cardiometabolic health, and hunger management, with IF-P providing greater benefits.

1699. Efficacy and Safety by BMI Category and Gender in Contezolid and Contezolid Acefosamil Phase 2 and Phase 3 Skin Infection Clinical Trials

Abstract Background Contezolid (CZD; MRX-I) is a novel oral (PO) oxazolidinone with potent activity against multidrug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens. Contezolid acefosamil (CZA; MRX-4) is an intravenous (IV) double prodrug of CZD. Nonclinical and initial clinical data indicate CZA and CZD may cause less myelosuppression, particularly with longer duration therapy, and with reduced risk of monoamine oxidase inhibition compared to linezolid (LZD). In 3 CZD Phase 2 (Ph2) and Phase 3 (Ph3) skin infection trials and 1 CZA Ph2 acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection (ABSSSI) study, primary efficacy and overall safety outcomes were comparable to LZD, and the most common treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were gastrointestinal; however, hematologic laboratory abnormalities and TEAEs were less common with CZD and CZA. In June 2021, CZD was approved in China for complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTI). Sequential therapy with CZA IV followed by CZD PO is being evaluated in global Ph3 diabetic foot infection (DFI) and ABSSSI clinical trials. Body weight and gender can affect drug pharmacokinetics (PK) and potentially efficacy and safety outcomes, though in CZA and CZD Phase 1 (Ph1) pharmacokinetics (PK) studies, PK differences between male and female healthy subjects were not considered to be significant. Efficacy and safety outcomes for male and female patients, and between subjects of different body mass index (BMI) were evaluated in completed Ph2 and Ph3 CZD and CZA studies. Methods In 4 CZD and CZA Ph2 and Ph3 skin infection trials, men and women were enrolled with no weight restrictions, and no dose adjustments were made for gender or BMI. Primary efficacy outcomes and occurrence of TEAEs were evaluated for CZD and CZA subjects in 3 BMI categories, and also in male and female subjects. Results Primary efficacy outcomes and occurrence of TEAEs appeared to be similar for CZD and CZA male and female subjects, and also subjects in different BMI categories in 4 skin infection trials. Conclusion In 4 completed Ph2 and Ph3 skin infection clinical trials, primary efficacy and safety outcomes appeared similar for male and female subjects, and for subjects of varying BMI, supporting current Ph3 global DFI and ABSSSI studies which will enroll men and women with no body weight restrictions. Disclosures Edward Fang, MD, MicuRx Pharmaceuticals Inc: Employee Huahui Yang, MS, MicuRx Pharmaceuticals Inc: Employee.

Transfer Learning Algorithm Combined with Hierarchy Correlation of Data

An improved transfer learning algorithm is proposed for data with hierarchical correlation which is introduced in the classical transfer learning algorithm TrAdaBoost. In the initial weight assignment phase, the hierarchical relationship between data is considered, and weight restriction are added. The experimental results show that the correct, precision and recall rate of the recommendation method based on the improved algorithm reach more than 85% on the learning resource sample data with hierarchical correlation.

Real-Time Object Detection and Recognition Using Fixed-Wing LALE VTOL UAV

This research aimed to identify objects from a real-time video (30 Hz) stream transmitted from a low-altitude long-endurance (LALE) fixed-wing hybrid vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed for asset monitoring. Illumination, rotation, and scale variations complicate the video frames created by UAVs’ optical payload, requiring preprocessing. Detection, identification, and classification of different objects (or targets) from a real-time video feed require fast and reliable detection algorithms, models, and computation. The weight restrictions and the onboard power supply only allowed for a Raspberry Pi onboard the UAV, thereby seriously limiting computational power. Image frames were created from the video data after enhancing its quality using image processing algorithms. Then, anchor-based object detection algorithms were applied to the processed and enhanced image frames. The Raspberry Pi at airspeeds of 16–18 m/s requires fast object detection algorithms having minimal computational overhead. A supervised learning technique using a supporting library further augmented the real-time detection at the ground control station (GCS). Four scenarios trained the candidate algorithms, namely: 1) helipad; 2) green area; 3) burned area; and 4) under construction area. The single-shot multibox detector (SSD) aided the supervised learning process during trials utilizing the labeled image datasets. The comparison of detection and identification performance of the SSD with ResNet-50 and ResNet-101 backbones with other methods, such as Faster-RCNN with four backbone architectures, namely: 1) ResNet-101; 2) ResNet-50; 3) deformable ResNet; and 4) FPN in four detection scenarios indicated better precision and reduced detection delays.

TESTING THE IMPACT OF INPUT AND OUTPUT SUBSTITUTABILITY IN NONPARAMETRIC PRODUCTION ANALYSIS: EVIDENCE FROM LIFE INSURANCE INDUSTRY IN INDIA

In this paper, two different variants (constrained and unconstrained) of a data envelopment analysis (DEA) model are used to compare inferences about production correspondence of the life insurance industry in India. While the unconstrained model implicitly assumes input substitutions and output transformations without their empirical verification, the constrained model explicitly incorporates weight restrictions on those inputs and outputs that are not substitutable and transformable, respectively. Our key findings are as follows. First, although the constrained model seems closely related to the notion of industry (structural) efficiency model, this link remains unexplored: we suggest a link between both models. Second, though the constrained model generates efficiency scores that are no more than those of its unconstrained counterpart, both models are in broad agreement in revealing that the life insurance industry experiences a sustained surge in its efficiency due to competition arising from insurance reforms adopted by the government over years, thus supporting the competition and X-efficiency hypothesis. Third, when the economic requirement of input substitutions is absent, both the models are found to give statistically significant results on efficiency ratings, returns to scale possibilities, and total factor productivity growth. In such a case, the unconstrained model generates benchmarking results based on an incorrect production frontier, which are potentially misleading and can hardly be used in managerial contexts. This finding, therefore, cautions the researchers not to blindly use any unconstrained model to evaluate the efficiency, productivity growth and returns to scale characterizations of firms without empirically verifying the presence/absence of input substitutions and output transformations.

Improved Kemeny Median Indicator Ranks Accordance Method

Multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) methods are widely used by decision makers as decision support tools. Most MADM methods have shortcomings in the solution process that combined with other decision making methods can eliminate these shortcomings or improve the performance of the method. One of the methods that can be used to improve MADM methods is preferential voting, which is actually a linear programming (LP) model with weight restrictions. The Kemeny Median Indicator Ranks Accordance (KEMIRA) is one of the most modern MADM methods; in this paper, we provide an improved version in this relative, by utilizing the concept of preferential voting. The new model, in being implemented on a real-world problem, will be compared to the previous method and ultimately some of its advantages will be rendered.

Antenatal Programming of Hypertension: Paradigms, Paradoxes, and How We Move Forward.

Synthesize the clinical, epidemiological, and preclinical evidence for antenatal programming of hypertension and critically appraise paradigms and paradoxes to improve translation. Clinical and epidemiological studies persistently demonstrate that antenatal factors contribute to programmed hypertension under the developmental origins of health and disease framework, including lower birth weight, preterm birth, and fetal growth restriction. Preclinical mechanisms include preeclampsia, maternal diabetes, maternal undernutrition, and antenatal corticosteroid exposure. However, clinical and epidemiological studies to date have largely failed to adequately identify, discuss, and mitigate many sources and types of bias in part due to heterogeneous study designs and incomplete adherence to scientific rigor. These limitations have led to incomplete and biased paradigms as well as persistent paradoxes that have significantly limited translation into clinical and population health interventions. Improved understanding of these paradigms and paradoxes will allow us to substantially move the field forward.

Effects of perinatal disease activity on offspring's growth in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic autoimmune disorder with a variable clinical course, ranging from mild to severe forms. It mainly occurs in women, especially those of fertile age. The aim of the study was to systematically analyze the associations of perinatal disease activity with adverse outcomes of Chinese patients with SLE and their offspring. Data of prenatal SLE patients and healthy pregnant woman admitted to our hospital during the period October 2001 to January 2018 were retrospectively collected, and the status of offspring of SLE patients was followed up in March 2020. Disease activity was evaluated by SLE disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI-2k), and those with scores > 6 were defined as having active disease. In total, 198 deliveries of 194 SLE patients and 199 deliveries of healthy women were documented. Maternal and fetal adverse outcomes occurred in 74 (37.4%) and 90 (45.5%) deliveries of SLE patients, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of healthy subjects. Among SLE patients, the active group had higher rates of gestational hypertension (p < 0.001), preeclampsia/eclampsia (p < 0.001), low birth weight (p < 0.001), premature birth (p < 0.001) and fetal growth restriction (FGR) (p < 0.01) than the inactive group. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that perinatal renal activity was associated with gestational hypertension (OR = 4.43, p < 0.001), preeclampsia/ eclampsia (OR = 9.14, p < 0.001), low birth weight (OR = 2.24, p < 0.05) and premature birth (OR = 4.20, p < 0.001). Compared with the general population, offspring of SLE patients had relatively high rates of eczema (50/142, 35.2%) and congenital heart disease (6/142, 4.2%), which were irrelevant to perinatal disease activity, but related to specific antibodies. For perinatal women with SLE, renal activity is associated with a variety of adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, maternal perinatal disease activity does not seem to affect the growth of their offspring.

On VEA, production trade-offs and weights restrictions

In this article we explore the relationship between Value Efficiency Analysis (VEA) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) models including production trade-offs or weights restrictions. In particular, we show that the VEA model is equivalent to a DEA model including production trade-offs for which the trade-off coefficient vectors are equal to either (i) the negative of the input and output quantities of the Decision Making Units (DMUs) chosen as the Most Preferred Solution (MPS) in VEA, under constant returns to scale, or (ii) the deviations of all evaluated DMUs’ input and output quantities from those of the DMUs chosen as the MPS, irrespectively of the returns-to-scale assumption. These trade-offs are the dual forms of type II Assurance Region weight restrictions. We then show that a similar equivalence holds between pure output or input VEA and DEA models including trade-offs, if the above trade-offs are respectively considered only for outputs or only for inputs. In this case the trade-offs are the dual forms of type I Assurance Region weight restrictions.

PSVI-4 Serum Metabolomic Characterization of Birth Weight and Neonatal Nutrient Restriction on Piglet Growth and Development

Abstract The objective was to characterize developmental differences in low birth weight (LBW) and normal birth weight (NBW) piglets with or without nutrient restriction using serum metabolomic profile analysis. After farrowing, 112 piglets were selected as LBW (1.22 ± 0.28 kg) or NBW (1.70 ± 0.27 kg) and were categorized to receive normal nutrition (NN) or restricted nutrition (RN - 6 h/day no suckling) until d 28 when the pigs were weaned onto a common diet until d 56. Blood samples were taken on d 28 and d 56 (n=8 pigs/treatment) and were analyzed using quantitative metabolomics via a combination of direct injection mass spectrometry with a reverse-phase LC-MS/MS custom assay (TMIC prime). Data were normalized using logarithmic transformation and auto-scaling. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was carried out to further explore the differential metabolites among the treatments (metaboanalyst.ca) with an integrated enrichment and pathway topography analysis. The results suggest that at d 28, LBW piglets had decreased metabolites associated with fatty acid oxidation, glycolysis and TCA cycle metabolites, and essential amino acids such as valine, leucine, arginine. These indicate a decrease utilization of gluconeogenic, and TCA cycle pathways compared with the NBW group. On d 56, LBW piglets had increased utilization of fatty acids, exhibited by increased production of serum acetoacetate, B-hydroxybutyrate, glycerol, compared with NBW. Additionally, the LBW piglets had decreased glucose utilization, pyruvate, succinate, citrate, a-ketoglutaric acid, and lactate compared with the NBW piglets. Due to low utilization of glycolysis and the TCA cycle, associated amino acids were less in LBW piglets, except for a increased glycerol which may indicate impairments in glucose tolerance. In summary, LBW piglets appear to have more metabolic deficiencies in early life, which is not resolved with nutrition in early life, but may be responsive to a tailored nutritional intervention post-weaning.

Least-distance approach for efficiency analysis: A framework for nonlinear DEA models

We propose a class of nonlinear data envelopment analysis (DEA) models, including variants of the Russell graph measure (RM), BRWZ measure, slack-based measure (SBM), and geometric distance function (GDF). Based on linear programming, this class of DEA models provides a monotonic maximum efficiency measure and an efficient target that achieves the least Manhattan distance from the weakly efficient frontier of the production possibility set. We show that the maximum efficiency measure in this class can be explicitly expressed as a decreasing function of the least Manhattan distance. Furthermore, by adding certain consistent weight restrictions to this class of DEA models, the maximum efficiency measures satisfy strong monotonicity.

Identifying and prioritizing bridges critical to commerce: A case study of weight-restricted bridges in North Carolina

• Bridges are critical nodes in commerce freight networks. • Weight-restricted bridges may not receive dedicated sources of funding. • Bridge criticality scores based on modeled traversal and detour metrics. • Objective, system-wide evaluation model to inform bridge project prioritization. • Validation of final bridge scores with local stakeholder input. Improving the weight restrictions on weight-restricted bridges can make transportation networks more suitable for economic development; however, revenue shortfalls or institutional policy gaps can impede certain types of bridge improvements. Weight-restricted bridges that are not located on high-traffic-volume routes do not qualify for North Carolina State bridge improvement programs and funding targeted for improving weight restrictions. As a result, bridges that are critical nodes in North Carolina’s commerce freight network may not receive dedicated sources of funding for improvements or replacements that add value and long-term viability to the freight network. This study develops a novel process for identifying and prioritizing weight-restricted bridges critical to commerce freight. Bridge criticality is evaluated from two perspectives using a Geographic Information System (GIS) travel model to predict truck routes. Bridges traversed in the travel model receive scores based on the count of modeled traversals and the cost of modeled detours. Scores are weighted by the trucking intensity of traversals and the distance from traversed bridges to route origins. This process offers an objective system-wide evaluation of weight-restricted bridges that can be used to inform bridge improvements and replacement projects that fall outside of dedicated funding prioritization processes. A targeted validation of final bridge scores based on local stakeholder input should be considered to confirm the modeled criticality scores.

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces in Action for Nonterrestrial Networks

Next-generation communication technology will be made possible by cooperation between terrestrial networks with nonterrestrial networks (NTNs) composed of high-altitude platform stations (HAPSs) and satellites. Further, as humanity embarks on the long road to establish new habitats on other planets, the cooperation between NTNs and deep-space networks (DSNs) will be necessary. In this regard, we propose the use of reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) to improve coordination between these networks given that RISs perfectly match the size, weight, and power (SWaP) restrictions of operating in space. A comprehensive framework of RIS-assisted nonterrestrial and interplanetary communications is presented that pinpoints challenges, use cases, and open issues. Furthermore, the performance of RIS-assisted NTNs under environmental effects, such as solar scintillation and satellite drag, is discussed in light of simulation results.

Case-control Association Study of TLR4 (rs 1927914) Polymorphism with the Risk of Low Birth Weight and Fetal Growth Restriction in North Indian Women

Case-control Association Study of TLR4 (rs 1927914) Polymorphism with the Risk of Low Birth Weight and Fetal Growth Restriction in North Indian Women

Polyimide aerogels for ballistic impact protection

The ballistic performance of edge-clamped monolithic polyimide aerogel blocks (12 mm thickness) has been studied through a series of impact tests using a helium-filled gas gun connected to a vacuum chamber and a spherical steel projectile (approximately 3 mm diameter) with an impact velocity range of 150–1300 m s−1. The aerogels had an average bulk density of 0.17 g cm−3 with high porosity of approximately 88%. The ballistic limit velocity of the aerogels was estimated to be in the range of 175–179 m s−1. Moreover, the aerogels showed a robust ballistic energy absorption performance (e.g., at the impact velocity of 1283 m s−1 at least 18% of the impact energy was absorbed). At low impact velocities, the aerogels failed by ductile hole enlargement followed by a tensile failure. By contrast, at high impact velocities, the aerogels failed through an adiabatic shearing process. Given the substantially robust ballistic performance, the polyimide aerogels have a potential to combat multiple constraints such as cost, weight, and volume restrictions in aeronautical and aerospace applications with high blast resistance and ballistic performance requirements such as in stuffed Whipple shields for orbital debris containment application.