Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sex Differences in Countermovement Jump Phase Characteristics

The countermovement jump (CMJ) is commonly used to explore sex differences in neuromuscular function, but previous studies have only reported gross CMJ measures or have partly examined CMJ phase characteristics. The purpose of this study was to explore differences in CMJ phase characteristics between male and female athletes by comparing the force-, power-, velocity-, and displacement-time curves throughout the entire CMJ, in addition to gross measures. Fourteen men and fourteen women performed three CMJs on a force platform from which a range of kinetic and kinematic variables were calculated via forward dynamics. Jump height (JH), reactive strength index modified, relative peak concentric power, and eccentric and concentric displacement, velocity, and relative impulse were all greater for men (g = 0.58–1.79). Relative force-time curves were similar between sexes, but relative power-, velocity-, and displacement-time curves were greater for men at 90%–95% (immediately before and after peak power), 47%–54% (start of eccentric phase) and 85%–100% (latter half of concentric phase), and 65%–87% (bottom of countermovement and initial concentric phase) of normalized jump time, respectively. The CMJ distinguished between sexes, with men demonstrating greater JH through applying a larger concentric impulse and, thus, achieving greater velocity throughout most of the concentric phase, including take-off.
Training Tips for the Transformer Model

Abstract This article describes our experiments in neural machine translation using the recent Tensor2Tensor framework and the Transformer sequence-to-sequence model (Vaswani et al., 2017). We examine some of the critical parameters that affect the final translation quality, memory usage, training stability and training time, concluding each experiment with a set of recommendations for fellow researchers. In addition to confirming the general mantra “more data and larger models”, we address scaling to multiple GPUs and provide practical tips for improved training regarding batch size, learning rate, warmup steps, maximum sentence length and checkpoint averaging. We hope that our observations will allow others to get better results given their particular hardware and data constraints.
Quality of life as a primary end point in oncology.

BACKGROUND In cancer clinical trials, the standard end points include response rates, progression free and overall survival, toxicity. These evaluation criteria do not measure how the cancer and its treatment affect the quality of life of cancer patients. DESIGN The relevant literature was reviewed for the purposes of determining when, how and why quality of life should be measured in cancer clinical trials. The resulting clinical benefits were also reviewed. RESULTS Along with survival, quality of life is the main end point of comparative clinical trials. Its evaluation can provide physicians and patients with important information and help to identify a better treatment. Cancer-specific questionnaires with forms for specific tumour types sites have been developed and have proven to be more sensitive to changes than generic questionnaires. Quality-of-life evaluation before the start of treatment may be an important prognostic factor, even independent from performance status. Clinical benefit assessment presents important shortcomings and the clinical relevance of this evaluation should be interpreted with caution. CONCLUSIONS Quality of life is a fundamental task of oncological research. More studies are necessary to overcome the difficulties in assessing and interpreting this concept and the clinical benefits based on it.
The effects of triptolide on the pharmacokinetics of sorafenib in rats and its potential mechanism

Abstract Context: Combining sorafenib with triptolide could inhibit tumour growth with greater efficacy than single-agent treatment. However, their herb–drug interaction remains unknown. Objective: This study investigates the herb–drug interaction between triptolide and sorafenib. Materials and methods: The effects of triptolide (10 mg/kg) on the pharmacokinetics of different doses of sorafenib (20, 50 and 100 mg/kg) in rats, and blood samples were collected within 48 h and evaluated using LC-MS/MS. The effects of triptolide on the absorption and metabolism of sorafenib were also investigated using Caco-2 cell monolayer model and rat liver microsome incubation systems. Results: The results showed that the Cmax (low dose: 72.38 ± 8.76 versus 49.15 ± 5.46 ng/mL; medium dose: 178.65 ± 21.05 versus 109.31 ± 14.17 ng/mL; high dose: 332.81 ± 29.38 versus 230.86 ± 9.68 ng/mL) of sorafenib at different doses increased significantly with the pretreatment of triptolide, and while the oral clearance rate of sorafenib decreased. The t1/2 of sorafenib increased significant (p < 0.05) from 9.02 ± 1.16 to 12.17 ± 2.95 h at low dose with the pretreatment of triptolide. Triptolide has little effect on the absorption of sorafenib in Caco-2 cell transwell model. However, triptolide could significantly decrease the intrinsic clearance rate of sorafenib from 51.7 ± 6.37 to 32.4 ± 4.43 μL/min/mg protein in rat liver microsomes. Discussion and conclusions: These results indicated that triptolide could change the pharmacokinetic profiles of sorafenib in rats; these effects might be exerted via decreasing the intrinsic clearance rate of sorafenib in rat liver.
Static stability analysis of smart magneto-electro-elastic heterogeneous nanoplates embedded in an elastic medium based on a four-variable refined plate theory

In this article, a nonlocal four-variable refined plate theory is developed to examine the buckling behavior of nanoplates made of magneto-electro-elastic functionally graded (MEE-FG) materials resting on Winkler–Pasternak foundation. Material properties of nanoplate change in spatial coordinate based on power-law distribution. The nonlocal governing equations are deduced by employing the Hamilton principle. For various boundary conditions, the analytical solutions of nonlocal MEE-FG plates for buckling problem will be obtained based on an exact solution approach. Finally, dependency of buckling response of MEE-FG nanoplate on elastic foundation parameters, magnetic potential, external electric voltage, various boundary conditions, small scale parameter, power-law index, plate side-to-thickness ratio and aspect ratio will be figure out. These results can be advantageous for the mechanical analysis and design of intelligent nanoscale structures constructed from magneto-electro-thermo-elastic functionally graded materials.
Some Chemical and Microbiological Characteristics of Agashi Meat Product

Some Chemical and Microbiological Characteristics of Shawerma Meat Product This study aimed to determine the chemical and microbiological quality characteristics of Shawerma meat product which is consumed largely as snack food in many Arabic countries including Sudan. Fifteen samples of Shawerma were collected from various sites in Wad Madani (central Sudan). These sites included, AlsugAlkabeer (A), AlsugAlsageer (B) and AlsugAlshabi (C). In addition, control samples of Shawerma were prepared at the laboratory using the most common method followed in Wad Madani. The results indicated that there were notable differences in most of the chemical components of raw and cooked Shawerma. The pH value of the various Shawerma samples falls between 4.8 � 0.1 and 5.4 � 0.05. However, the protein content of raw Shawerma (19.25 � 0.9 to 23 � 0.41%) was lower than that of cooked Shawerma (22.75 � to 28 � 0.9%). The fat content in raw Shawerma ranged between 3.44 � 0.32 and 6 � 0.1%, while in cooked Shawerma, it ranged between 4.76 � to 10 � 0.15%.
Hybrid Augmented Reality for Participatory Learning: The Hidden Efficacy of Multi-User Game-Based Simulation

The goal for this research is to articulate and test a new hybrid Augmented Reality (AR) environment for conceptual understanding. From the theoretical lens of embodied interaction, we have designed a multi-user participatory simulation called ARfract where visitors in a science museum can learn about complex scientific concepts on the refraction of light through full-body immersion using optical see-through AR glasses, projection-based AR, and gesture technology. In particular, we developed two different types of simulations for ARfract , namely a game-based simulation and a non-game simulation to explore how the order of different AR simulations influences the perceived usability, user behaviors, learning experiences, and learning outcomes. For the experiment, 10 dyads were randomly assigned to one of the two experimental conditions: 1) the game-to-non-game condition and 2) the non-game-to-game condition. The results indicate that the learners who experienced the game-based simulation before the non-game simulation performed better than did the other group with the reversed experience order. This paper also reports the usability, user behaviors, and learning experience issues regarding the affordances of hybrid AR technologies. The major contribution of this proof-of concept research is that it articulates our understanding of how particular configurations (i.e., order) of the emerging technologies (i.e., hybrid Augmented Reality systems) and its use can lead to different learning outcomes.
Sensing spatial distribution of urban land use by integrating points-of-interest and Google Word2Vec model

ABSTRACT Urban land use information plays an essential role in a wide variety of urban planning and environmental monitoring processes. During the past few decades, with the rapid technological development of remote sensing (RS), geographic information systems (GIS) and geospatial big data, numerous methods have been developed to identify urban land use at a fine scale. Points-of-interest (POIs) have been widely used to extract information pertaining to urban land use types and functional zones. However, it is difficult to quantify the relationship between spatial distributions of POIs and regional land use types due to a lack of reliable models. Previous methods may ignore abundant spatial features that can be extracted from POIs. In this study, we establish an innovative framework that detects urban land use distributions at the scale of traffic analysis zones (TAZs) by integrating Baidu POIs and a Word2Vec model. This framework was implemented using a Google open-source model of a deep-learning language in 2013. First, data for the Pearl River Delta (PRD) are transformed into a TAZ-POI corpus using a greedy algorithm by considering the spatial distributions of TAZs and inner POIs. Then, high-dimensional characteristic vectors of POIs and TAZs are extracted using the Word2Vec model. Finally, to validate the reliability of the POI/TAZ vectors, we implement a K-Means-based clustering model to analyze correlations between the POI/TAZ vectors and deploy TAZ vectors to identify urban land use types using a random forest algorithm (RFA) model. Compared with some state-of-the-art probabilistic topic models (PTMs), the proposed method can efficiently obtain the highest accuracy (OA = 0.8728, kappa = 0.8399). Moreover, the results can be used to help urban planners to monitor dynamic urban land use and evaluate the impact of urban planning schemes.
Analytical method of calculating the electromagnetic field and power losses in ferromagnetic halfspace, taking into account saturation and hysteresis

The steady-state solution of electromagnetic-field problems in ferromagnetic materials is given. The effects of magnetic saturation and hysteresis are included. The solution is based on the differential diffusion equation assuming variable complex magnetic permeability. A precise formula is given to calculate the total power losses due to eddy currents and hysteresis. Computed curves, together with measured curves, are given for active and reactive losses in mild steel. Good agreement is obtained between measured and computed values.
A sharp Pif1-dependent threshold separates DNA double-strand breaks from critically short telomeres

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and short telomeres are structurally similar, yet they have diametrically opposed fates. Cells must repair DSBs while blocking the action of telomerase on these ends. Short telomeres must avoid recognition by the DNA damage response while promoting telomerase recruitment. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Pif1 helicase, a telomerase inhibitor, lies at the interface of these end-fate decisions. Using Pif1 as a sensor, we uncover a transition point in which 34 bp of telomeric (TG1-3)n repeat sequence renders a DNA end insensitive to Pif1 action, thereby enabling extension by telomerase. A similar transition point exists at natural chromosome ends, where telomeres shorter than ~40 bp are inefficiently extended by telomerase. This phenomenon is not due to known Pif1 modifications and we instead propose that Cdc13 renders TG34+ ends insensitive to Pif1 action. We contend that the observed threshold of Pif1 activity defines a dividing line between DSBs and telomeres.
Interstitial Lung Disease as an Initial Manifestation of Giant Cell Arteritis

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) has rarely been reported as a manifestation of giant cell arteritis (GCA). We herein report a unique case of GCA in a 76-year-old woman who presented with ILD as an initial manifestation of GCA. Ten years before admission, she had been diagnosed with granulomatous ILD of unknown etiology. Corticosteroid therapy induced remission. One year after the cessation of corticosteroid therapy, she was admitted with a persistent fever. After admission, she developed left oculomotor paralysis. Positron emission tomography with 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-D-glucose integrated with computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) proved extremely useful in establishing the diagnosis. Our case promotes awareness of GCA as a possible diagnosis for granulomatous ILD with unknown etiology.
Commissioning, clinical implementation, and performance of the Mobetron 2000 for intraoperative radiation therapy

Abstract The Mobetron is a mobile electron accelerator designed to deliver therapeutic radiation dose intraoperatively while diseased tissue is exposed. Experience with the Mobetron 1000 has been reported extensively. However, since the time of those publications a new model, the Mobetron 2000, has become commercially available. Experience commissioning this new model and 3 years of data from historical use are reported here. Descriptions of differences between the models are emphasized, both in physical form and in dosimetric characteristics. Results from commissioning measurements including output factors, air gap factors, percent depth doses (PDDs), and 2D dose profiles are reported. Output factors are found to have changed considerably in the new model, with factors as high as 1.7 being measured. An example lookup table of appropriate accessory/energy combinations for a given target dimension is presented, and the method used to generate it described. Results from 3 years of daily QA measurements are outlined. Finally, practical considerations garnered from 3 years of use are presented.
An Acoustic Micromixer Using Low-Powered Voice Coil Actuation

A low-powered acoustic micromixer has been presented in this paper. This newly invented system consists of an open-top mixing chamber and a permanent magnet mixer base. A voice coil is attached to the bottom of the mixing chamber with a polydimethylsiloxane membrane. The optimal driving frequency of each mixing test can be co-determined during (or prior to) the mixing via an electrical impedance (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Z_{e}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) measurement owing to inherent electro-acoustic coupling of the system. When the mixer is driving at its resonance frequency found from the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Z_{e}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, mixing efficiency is maximized characterizing millie-watt efficiency to achieve a mixing time scale comparable to other acoustic mixers. In addition, the present mixer demonstrates feasibility of a portable microfluidic system, wherein the degree of mixing may be tracked by <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Z_{e}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> monitoring from a smart-phone, which may allow each experiment to be controlled remotely over existing network environment. We believe that our study demonstrates a feasible application of microelectromechanical systems technology for the Internet of Things. [2017-0119]
The # BTW 17 Twitter Dataset – Recorded Tweets of the Federal Election Campaigns of 2017 for the 19 th German Bundestag

The German Bundestag elections are the most important elections in Germany. This dataset comprises Twitter interactions related to German politicians of the most important political parties over several months in the (pre-)phase of the German federal election campaigns in 2017. The Twitter accounts of more than 360 politicians were followed for four months. The collected data comprise a sample of approximately 10 GB of Twitter raw data, and they cover more than 120,000 active Twitter users and more than 1,200,000 recorded tweets. Even without sophisticated data analysis techniques, it was possible to deduce a likely political party proximity for more than half of these accounts simply by looking at the re-tweet behavior. This might be of interest for innovative data-driven party campaign strategists in the future. Furthermore, it is observable, that, in Germany, supporters and politicians of populist parties make use of Twitter much more intensively and aggressively than supporters of other parties. Furthermore, established left-wing parties seem to be more active on Twitter than established conservative parties. The dataset can be used to study how political parties, their followers and supporters make use of social media channels in political election campaigns and what kind of content is shared. Data Set: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.835735 Data Set License: CC BY 4.0
Evaluation of kidney motion and target localization in abdominal SBRT patients

The purpose of this study was to evaluate bilateral kidney and target translational/rotational intrafraction motion during stereotactic body radiation therapy treatment delivery of primary renal cell carcinoma and oligometastatic adrenal lesions for patients immobilized in the Elekta BodyFIX system. Bilateral kidney motion was assessed at midplane for 30 patients immobilized in a full‐body dual‐vacuum‐cushion system with two patients immobilized via abdominal compression. Intrafraction motion was assessed for 15 patients using kilovoltage cone‐beam computed tomography (kV‐CBCT) datasets (n=151) correlated to the planning CT. Patient positioning was corrected for translational and rotational misalignments using a robotic couch in six degrees of freedom if setup errors exceeded 1 mm and 1°. Absolute bilateral kidney motion between inhale and exhale 4D CT imaging phases for left–right (LR), superior–inferior (SI), and anterior–posterior (AP) directions was 1.51±1.00mm,8.10±4.33mm, and 3.08±2.11mm, respectively. Residual setup error determined across CBCT type (pretreatment, intrafraction, and post‐treatment) for x (LR), y (SI), and z (AP) translations was 0.63±0.74mm,1.08±1.38mm, and 0.70±1.00mm; while for x (pitch), y (roll), and z (yaw) rotations was 0.24±0.39°,0.19±0.34°, and 0.26±0.43°, respectively. Targets were localized to within 2.1 mm and 0.8° 95% of the time. The frequency of misalignments in the y direction was significant (p<0.05) when compared to the x and z directions with no significant difference in translations between IMRT and VMAT. This technique is robust using BodyFIX for patient immobilization and reproducible localization of kidney and adrenal targets and daily CBCT image guidance for correction of positional errors to maintain treatment accuracy. PACS number(s): 87.55. ‐x, 87.56. ‐v, 87.56. Da
The Mycobiome: A Neglected Component in the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis

In recent years, the gut microbiota has been considered as a full-fledged actor of the gut–brain axis, making it possible to take a new step in understanding the pathophysiology of both neurological and psychiatric diseases. However, most of the studies have been devoted to gut bacterial microbiota, forgetting the non-negligible fungal flora. In this review, we expose how the role of the fungal component in the microbiota-gut-brain axis is legitimate, through its interactions with both the host, especially with the immune system, and the gut bacteria. We also discuss published data that already attest to a role of the mycobiome in the microbiota-gut-brain axis, and the impact of fungi on clinical and therapeutic research.
Tribulus terrestris Extract Improves Human Sperm Parameters In Vitro

Objective. The object of present study was to investigate the effects of direct addition of Tribulus terrestris extract on human sperm parameters. Design. Semen specimens from 40 healthy men volunteers were divided into 4 groups: one group received no treatment (control group) while the others were incubated with 20, 40, and 50 µg/mL of T terrestris extract (experimental groups). Motility, viability, and DNA fragmentation were assessed in all groups. Results. The incubation of human semen with 40 and 50 μg/mL of T terrestris extract significantly enhanced total sperm motility, number of progressive motile spermatozoa, and curvilinear velocity over 60 to 120 minutes’ holding time (P < .05 or P < < .01). Furthermore, viability was significantly enhanced by using T terrestris extract (P < .01). Conclusions. In vitro addition of the T terrestris extract to human sperm could affect male fertility capacity.
A qualitative assessment of West Virginia pharmacist activities and attitude in diabetes management

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The role of pharmacists in chronic disease state management has been shown to significantly improve patient health outcomes and reduce overall health care costs. The current study is designed to assess the roles and attitudes of West Virginia (WV) pharmacists toward diabetes, evaluate services provided, address pharmacist clinical understanding and training, and demonstrate the challenges that limit pharmacists ability to deliver an efficient disease state management. METHODS We invited 435 preceptors affiliated with the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy to participate in the study using Qualtrics online survey software. The survey was divided into sections related to pharmacists, practice environment, pharmacist's roles in diabetes management, and challenges faced that limit their ability to deliver effective care to diabetic patients. Data were analyzed using 1-way analysis of variance, and a P value ≤. 05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS Of all eligible invited preceptors, 104 accessed the online survey based on the Qualtrics tracking tool, while 58 participated in the survey with a 56% response rate. Generally, WV pharmacists have positive attitudes regarding the provision of primary activities related to drug use and its associated problems. However, we report that WV pharmacists are less involved in providing education or recommendations regarding diabetes-associated risk factors such as nephropathy, retinopathy, foot care, and gastroparesis. In addition, the majority of pharmacists indicated that they face many challenges related to patient and the practice site environment that limit their ability to provide optimum diabetes patient care services. CONCLUSION Despite the mounting evidence that pharmacists can improve diabetic patient outcomes while significantly reducing overall costs, WV pharmacists are less involved in providing education or counseling in a variety of areas related to disease state management. In addition, identifying pharmacist challenges provides significant information for future planning toward improving diabetic patient care.