Physical Inactivity, Sedentary Behavior and Chronic Diseases

Karimé González,Jorge Fuentes,José Luis Márquez 대한가정의학회 2017 Korean Journal of Family Medicine Vol.38 No.3

New research into physical activity suggests that it is no longer sufficient just to meet minimum levels recommend-ed by health guidelines in order to reduce cardiovascular risk. Both physical inactivity and sedentary behavior have their own health hazards and need to be addressed separately, in order to explore their different deleterious mech-anisms. The aim of this review was to define and to characterize both concepts, and their relationship with major non-communicable chronic diseases. A PubMed database search was undertaken, using the following key words: physical activity, physical inactivity, sedentarism, sedentary behavior, and non-communicable chronic disease. This literature review provides an updated view on physical inactivity and sedentary behavior, and reevaluates their prevalence and association with major non-communicable chronic disease.

Amplified Pixel Architectures in Amorphous Silicon Technology for Large Area Digital Imaging Applications

Karim S. Karim,F. Taghibakhsh,G. Sanaie-Fard Sanaie-Fard,M. H. Izadi,T. Ottaviani 한국물리학회 2006 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.48 No.I

On-pixel amplifiers in amorphous silicon (a-Si) technology can offer increased pixel signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) compared to traditional switch based imaging pixels. Experiments reveal a reduction in readout noise and indicate that a-Si pixel amplifiers can meet the stringent requirements for digital X-ray fluoroscopy. However, larger input voltages can introduce non-linearities thereby reducing the pixel dynamic range. In this research, we investigate amplified pixel architectures that exhibit large signal linearity and consequently higher dynamic range. Gain, linearity, noise, metastability and area estimations of the amplified pixels indicate their applicability in large-area medical Xray imaging applications that require switching between low-exposure, real-time fluoroscopy and high-exposure chest radiography modes at a region of interest.

Effect of Pollination Technique on Agronomic and Physicochemical Characteristics of Date Palm Fruits (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cv. ‘Deglet Nour ’

Kadri Karim,Aounallah Karim,Hammadi Hamza,Abdelhafidh Manar,Chahine Karmous,Taoufik Bettaieb 한국원예학회 2022 원예과학기술지 Vol.40 No.2

Interaction of Bacillus thuringiensis $\delta$-endotoxins with Midgut Brush Border Membrane Vesicles of Helicoverpa armigera

Karim, Shahid,Riazuddin, S.,Dean, D.H. Korean Society of Applied Entomology 1999 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.2 No.2

Pesticidal activity of different Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)$\delta$-endotoxins, Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac and Cry2A, were investaged against Helicoverpa armingera infestig cotton crop worldwide. Cry1Ac toxin was found to be the most potent toxin towards H. armigera. All selected Bt toxins were found stable in viro processing by midgut juice of H. armigera. Saturation and Bt toxins were found stable in vitro processing by midgut juice of H. armigera. Saturation and competition binding experiments were performed with iodine-125 labeled proteins and brush border membrane vesicles prepared from the midgut of H. armigera. The results show saturable, specific and high affinity of all toxins expect for Cry2A. Both the toxis were bound with low binding affinity but with high binding site concentration. Heterologous competition experiments showed that Cry1Aa, Cry1A and Cry1Ac recognized or share the same binding site which is different from that of Cry2A. The data suggest that development of multiple toxin system in transgenic plants with toxin pyramiding, which recognize different binding sites, may be useful in the deployment strategies to decrease the rate of pest adaptation to Bt toxins in transgenic plants.

Analysis of Marginal Count Failure Data by using Covariates

Karim, Md.Rezaul,Suzuki, Kazuyuki The Korean Reliability Society 2003 International Journal of Reliability and Applicati Vol.4 No.2

Manufacturers collect and analyze field reliability data to enhance the quality and reliability of their products and to improve customer satisfaction. To reduce the data collecting and maintenance costs, the amount of data maintained for evaluating product quality and reliability should be minimized. With this in mind, some industrial companies assemble warranty databases by gathering data from different sources for a particular time period. This “marginal count failure data” does not provide (i) the number of failures by when the product entered service, (ii) the number of failures by product age, or (iii) information about the effects of the operating season or environment. This article describes a method for estimating age-based claim rates from marginal count failure data. It uses covariates to identify variations in claims relative to variables such as manufacturing characteristics, time of manufacture, operating season or environment. A Poisson model is presented, and the method is illustrated using warranty claims data for two electrical products.

Nutrient Intake and Utilization by Range Managed Sheep in Critical Physiological Stages Maintained on Grazing with Concentrate Supplementation in a Hot Semi-Arid Environment

Karim, S.A.,Santra, A.,Sharma, V. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2000 Animal Bioscience Vol.13 No.9

The reported study was conducted on range managed Malpura ewes that were non-breeding empty, were at an advanced stage of pregnancy, and were in early lactation, under a protocol of free grazing with concentrate supplementation at 1.00, 1.25 and 1.50% of their body weight to assess their plane of nutrition and nutrient intake. The biomass yield of pasture plots was 1689, 1820 and 2912 kg/ha in pregnancy, lactation and empty phases, respectively. In addition to natural shrubs and forbs, Cenchrus ciliaris (36.4%) and dead litter (31.6%) were the major component of pasture vegetation during pregnancy. The dead litter disappeared during the lactation and empty phase with a concomitant increase in distribution of Cenchrus ciliaris to 73.0 and 87.2% respectively. The daily dry matter consumption from supplemental concentrate and free grazing was 70.1, 57.3 and 63.5 g/kg $W^{0.75}/d$ with concentrate to roughage ratio of 40:60, 47:53 and 33:67 in pregnancy, lactation and empty phases respectively. Digestibility of DM and OM were similar in the three phases while CP digestibility was higher (p<0.0l) during lactation than other two phases. Digestibility of NDF, ADF and cellulose were higher (p<0.0l) in empty than pregnancy and lactation, while hemicellulose digestibility was similar in lactation and empty and lower in pregnancy phase. The ewes in ~hases of pregnancy, lactation and empty consumed 7.1, 7.7 and 6.1 g DCP and 197.2, 214.6 and 232.5 kcal DE/kg $W^{0.75}/d$ respectively. It is concluded that ewes maintained on semi-arid Cenchrus dominated pasture with concentrate supplementation during pregnancy, lactation and empty phases consumed 45.2, 45.1 and 35.2 g DCP/Mcal ME respectively.

Areca Nut Chewing and the Risk of Re-hospitalization and Mortality Among Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome in Pakistan

Karim, Muhammad Tariq,Inam, Sumera,Ashraf, Tariq,Shah, Nadia,Adil, Syed Omair,Shafique, Kashif The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine 2018 Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Vol.51 No.2

Objectives: Areca nut is widely consumed in many parts of the world, especially in South and Southeast Asia, where cardiovascular disease (CVD) is also a huge burden. Among the forms of CVD, acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity. Research has shown areca nut chewing to be associated with diabetes, hypertension, oropharyngeal and esophageal cancers, and CVD, but little is known about mortality and re-hospitalization secondary to ACS among areca nut users and non-users. Methods: A prospective cohort was studied to quantify the effect of areca nut chewing on patients with newly diagnosed ACS by categorizing the study population into exposed and non-exposed groups according to baseline chewing status. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the associations of areca nut chewing with the risk of re-hospitalization and 30-day mortality secondary to ACS. Results: Of the 384 ACS patients, 49.5% (n=190) were areca users. During 1-month of follow-up, 20.3% (n=78) deaths and 25.1% (n=96) re-hospitalizations occurred. A higher risk of re-hospitalization was found (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29 to 3.27; p=0.002) in areca users than in non-users. Moreover, patients with severe disease were at a significantly higher risk of 30-day mortality (aHR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.67 to 4.59; p<0.001) and re-hospitalization (aHR, 2.72; 95% CI, 1.73 to 4.26; p<0.001). Conclusions: The 30-day re-hospitalization rate among ACS patients was found to be significantly higher in areca users and individuals with severe disease. These findings suggest that screening for a history of areca nut chewing may help to identify patients at a high risk for re-hospitalization due to secondary events.

Epidemiology and Clinical Burden of Malaria in the War-Torn Area, Orakzai Agency in Pakistan

Karim, Asad Mustafa,Hussain, Irfan,Malik, Sumera Kausar,Lee, Jung Hun,Cho, Ill Hwan,Kim, Young Bae,Lee, Sang Hee Public Library of Science 2016 PLoS neglected tropical diseases Vol.10 No.1

<▼1><P><B>Background</B></P><P>Military conflict has been a major challenge in the detection and control of emerging infectious diseases such as malaria. It poses issues associated with enhancing emergence and transmission of infectious diseases by destroying infrastructure and collapsing healthcare systems. The Orakzai agency in Pakistan has witnessed a series of intense violence and destruction. Military conflicts and instability in Afghanistan have resulted in the migration of refugees into the area and possible introduction of many infectious disease epidemics. Due to the ongoing violence and Talibanization, it has been a challenge to conduct an epidemiological study.</P><P><B>Methodology/Principal Findings</B></P><P>All patients were sampled within the transmission season. After a detailed clinical investigation of patients, data were recorded. Baseline venous blood samples were taken for microscopy and nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) analysis. <I>Plasmodium</I> species were detected using nested PCR (nPCR) and amplification of the small subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (ssrRNA) genes using the primer pairs. We report a clinical assessment of the epidemic situation of malaria caused by <I>Plasmodium vivax</I> (86.5%) and <I>Plasmodium falciparum</I> (11.79%) infections with analysis of complications in patients such as decompensated shock (41%), anemia (8.98%), hypoglycaemia (7.3%), multiple convulsions (6.7%), hyperpyrexia (6.17%), jaundice (5%), and hyperparasitaemia (4.49%).</P><P><B>Conclusions/Significance</B></P><P>This overlooked distribution of <I>P</I>. <I>vivax</I> should be considered by malaria control strategy makers in the world and by the Government of Pakistan. In our study, children were the most susceptible population to malaria infection while they were the least expected to use satisfactory prevention strategies in such a war-torn deprived region. Local health authorities should initiate malaria awareness programs in schools and malaria-related education should be further promoted at the local level reaching out to both children and parents.</P></▼1><▼2><P><B>Author Summary</B></P><P>The malaria epidemic and endemic in Pakistan is a present and ongoing threat to public health which could have an impact in the nearby regions as well. For the first time, we report a clinical assessment of malaria endemicity in the Orakzai Agency, which is Pakistan’s most neglected area due to Talibanization and war in Afghanistan. Febrile patient blood samples of the area were investigated to report the clinical assessment of malaria caused by <I>Plasmodium vivax</I> and <I>P</I>. <I>falciparum</I> infections. The nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) examination detected 154 (86%) and 21 (12%) <I>P</I>. <I>vivax</I> and <I>P</I>. <I>falciparum</I> infections, respectively. We found worsening hygiene conditions in FATA, likely caused by poor socioeconomics and the collapse of the public health infrastructure. Decompensated shock was a common and prominent clinical feature of malaria among all the clinical presentations caused by both <I>P</I>. <I>vivax</I> (53%) and <I>P</I>. <I>falciparum</I> (42.9%). Our results have significant implications for both public health and malaria control in FATA and Pakistan. Our findings illustrate higher prevalence of malaria in children compared to other age groups. Further research on sensible estimates of refugees is required, as well as resistance to anti-malarials.</P></▼2>

Improvement of the amplification gain for a propulsion drives of an electric vehicle with sensor voltage and mechanical speed control

Karim Negadi,Mohamed Boudiaf,Rabah Araria,Lazreg Hadji 국제구조공학회 2022 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.29 No.5

In this paper, an electric vehicle drives with efficient control and low cost hardware using four quadrant DC converter with Permanent Magnet Direct Current (PMDC) motor fed by DC boost converter is presented. The main idea of this work is to improve the energy efficiency of the conversion chain of an electric vehicle by inserting a boost converter between the battery and the four quadrant-DC motor chopper assembly. Consequently, this method makes it possible to maintain the amplification gain of the 4 quadrant chopper constant regardless of the battery voltage drop and even in the presence of a fault in the battery. One of the most important control problems is control under heavy uncertainty conditions. The higher order sliding mode control technique is introduced for the adjustment of DC bus voltage and mechanical motor speed. To implement the proposed approach in the automotive field, experimental tests were carried out. The performances obtained show the usefulness of this system for a better energy management of an electric vehicle and an ideal control under different operating conditions and constraints, mostly at nominal operation, in the presence of a load torque, when reversing the direction of rotation of the motor speed and even in case of battery chamber failure. The whole system has been tested experimentally and its performance has been analyzed.

Analysis of Expressed Sequence Tags from the Wood-Decaying Fungus Fomitopsis palustris and Identification of Potential Genes Involved in the Decay Process

( Karim Nurul ),( Hajime Shibuya ),( Taisei Kikuchi ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2011 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.21 No.4

Fomitopsis palustris, a brown-rot basidiomycete, causes the most destructive type of decay in wooden structures. In spite of its great economic importance, very little information is available at the molecular level regarding its complex decay process. To address this, we generated over 3,000 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from a cDNA library constructed from F. palustris. Clustering of 3,095 high-quality ESTs resulted in a set of 1,403 putative unigenes comprising 485 contigs and 918 singlets. Homology searches based on BlastX analysis revealed that 78% of the F. palustris unigenes had a significant match to proteins deposited in the nonredundant databases. A subset of F. palustris unigenes showed similarity to the carbohydrateactive enzymes (CAZymes), including a range of glycosyl hydrolase (GH) family proteins. Some of these CAZymeencoded genes were previously undescribed for F. palustris but predicted to have potential roles in biodegradation of wood. Among them, we identified and characterized a gene (FpCel45A) encoding the GH family 45 endoglucanase. Moreover, we also provided functional classification of 473 (34%) of F. palustris unigenes using the Gene Ontology hierarchy. The annotated EST data sets and related analysis may be useful in providing an initial insight into the genetic background of F. palustris.