Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Can Energy Cost During Low-Intensity Resistance Exercise be Predicted by the OMNI-RES Scale?

Can Energy Cost During Low-Intensity Resistance Exercise be Predicted by the OMNI-RES Scale? The aim of the present study was to assess the precision of the OMNI-RES scale to predict energy cost (EC) at low intensity in four resistance exercises (RE). 17 male recreational body builders (age = 26.6 ± 4.9 years; height = 177.7 ± 0.1 cm; body weight = 79.0 ± 11.1 kg and percent body fat = 10.5 ± 4.6%) served as subjects. Initially tests to determine 1RM for four resistance exercises (bench press, half squat, lat pull down and triceps extension) were administered. Subjects also performed resistance exercise at 12, 16, 20, and 24% of 1RM at a rate of 40 bpm until volitional exhaustion. Oxygen uptake (VO2) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) using the OMNI-RES were obtained during and after all RE. EC was calculated using VO2 and the caloric values of VO2 for non-protein RER. Regression analyses were performed for every RE, using EC as the dependent and RPE as the predictor variable. The triceps extension, lat pull down and bench press, RPE correlated strongly with EC (R > 0.97) and predicted EC with a error of less than 0.2 kcal.min-1. In conclusion, RPE using the OMNI-RES scale can be considered as an accurate indicator of EC in the bench press, lat pull down and triceps extension performed by recreational bodybuilders, provided lower intensities are used (up to 24% of 1-RM) and provided each set of exercise is performed for the maximal sustainable duration. It would be interesting in future studies to consider having the subjects exercise at low intensities for longer durations than those in the present study.
Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity, Polyphenolic Compounds, Amino Acids and Mineral Elements of Representative Genotypes of Lonicera edulis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioactive substances in 19 berry cultivars of edible honeysuckle (Lonicera edulis). A statistical evaluation was used to determine the relationship between the content of selected bioactive substances and individual cultivars. Regarding mineral elements, the content of sodium was measured using potentiometry and spectrophotometry. The content of selected polyphenolic compounds with high antioxidant activity was determined by a HPLC–UV/ED method. The total amount of polyphenols was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The antioxidant activity was determined using five methods (DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, FR and DMPD) that differ in their principles. The content of 13 amino acids was determined by ion-exchange chromatography. The experimental results obtained for the different cultivars were evaluated and compared by statistical and bioinformatic methods. A unique feature of this study lies in the exhaustive analysis of the chosen parameters (amino acids, mineral elements, polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activity) during one growing season.
Outbreeding and lack of temporal genetic structure in a drone congregation of the neotropical stingless bee Scaptotrigona mexicana

Drone aggregations are a widespread phenomenon in many stingless bee species (Meliponini), but the ultimate and proximate causes for their formation are still not well understood. One adaptive explanation for this phenomenon is the avoidance of inbreeding, which is especially detrimental for stingless bees due to the combined effects of the complementary sex-determining system and the small effective population size caused by eusociality and monandry. We analyzed the temporal genetic dynamics of a drone aggregation of the stingless bee Scaptotrigona mexicana with microsatellite markers over a time window of four weeks. We estimated the drones of the aggregation to originate from a total of 55 colonies using sibship re-construction. There was no detectable temporal genetic differentiation or sub-structuring in the aggregation. Most important, we could exclude all colonies in close proximity of the aggregation as origin of the drones in the aggregation, implicating that they originate from more distant colonies. We conclude that the diverse genetic composition and the distant origin of the drones of the S. mexicana drone congregation provides an effective mechanism to avoid mating among close relatives.
The DUDE framework for continuous tone image denoising

This paper discusses the challenges of applying the DUDE framework to continuous tone images and the tools used to address these challenges. As in lossless image compression, a key component of the DUDE framework is the determination of a probability distribution for samples of the input (noisy) image, conditioned on their contexts. Thus, we can leverage from tools developed and tested in the context of lossless compression for determining such distributions, together with tools that are specific to the assumptions of the denoising application. These tools combine with the DUDE principles into a framework that yields powerful and practical denoisers for continuous tone images corrupted by a variety of noise processes.
Exchange Rate Volatility and Employment Growth: Empirical Evidence from the CEE Economies

According to the traditional 'optimum currency area' approach, not much will be lost from a very hard peg to a currency union if there has been little reason for variations in the exchange rate. This paper takes a different approach and highlights the fact that high exchange rate volatility may as well signal high costs for labor markets. The impact of exchange rate volatility on labor markets in the CEECs is analyzed, finding that volatility visa- vis the euro significantly lowers employment growth. Hence, the elimination of exchange rate volatility could be considered as a substitute for a removal of employment protection legislation.
A Programming Methodology for Dual-tier Multicomputers a Programming Methodology for Dual-tier Multicomputers

Hierarchically-organized ensembles of shared memory multiprocessors possess a richer and more complex model of locality than previous generation multicomputers with single processor nodes. These dual-tier computers introduce many new factors into the program-mer's performance model. We present a methodology for implementing block-structured numerical applications on dual-tier computers, and a run-time infrastructure, called KeLP2, that implements the methodology. KeLP2 supports two levels of locality and parallelism via hierarchical SPMD control ow, run-time geometric meta-data, and asynchronous collective communication. KeLP applications can eeectively overlap communication with computation under conditions where non-blocking point-to-point message passing fails to do so. KeLP's abstractions hide considerable detail without sacriicing performance, and dual-tier applications written in KeLP consistently outperform equivalent single-tier implementations written in MPI. We describe the KeLP2 model and show how it facilitates the implementation of ve block-structured applications specially formulated to hide communication latency on dual-tiered architectures. We support our arguments with empirical data from running the applications on various single-and dual-tier multicomputers. KeLP2 supports a migration path from single-tier to dual-tier platforms, and we illustrate this capability with a detailed programming example.
Targeted DNA Mutagenesis for the Cure of Chronic Viral Infections

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV) have been incurable to date because effective antiviral therapies target only replicating viruses and do not eradicate latently integrated or nonreplicating episomal viral genomes. Endonucleases that can target and cleave critical regions within latent viral genomes are currently in development. These enzymes are being engineered with high specificity such that off-target binding of cellular DNA will be absent or minimal. Imprecise nonhomologous-end-joining (NHEJ) DNA repair following repeated cleavage at the same critical site may permanently disrupt translation of essential viral proteins. We discuss the benefits and drawbacks of three types of DNA cleavage enzymes (zinc finger endonucleases, transcription activator-like [TAL] effector nucleases [TALENs], and homing endonucleases [also called meganucleases]), the development of delivery vectors for these enzymes, and potential obstacles for successful treatment of chronic viral infections. We then review issues regarding persistence of HIV-1, HBV, and HSV that are relevant to eradication with genome-altering approaches.
Pro-inflammatory cytokine; tumor-necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibits astrocytic support of neuronal survival and neurites outgrowth

Reactive astrogliosis has been implicated in the failure of axonal regeneration in adult mammalian Central Nervous System (CNS). It is our hypothesis that inflammatory cytokines act upon astrocytes to alter their biochemical and physical properties, which may in turn be responsible for the failure of neuronal regeneration. We have therefore examined the effect of tumor-necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) on the ability of astrocytes to support the survival of the cortical neurons and the growth of the neurites. Mouse astrocytes and cortical neuronal cultures were prepared. It was observed that when neurons were cultured in absence of astrocytes only a few of them grew and survived only for 5-6 days. These neurons had small cell bodies and few, short neurites. However, when the same numbers of neurons were cultured on the top of astrocytes, more neurons grew and survived up to 16-18 days. They had bigger cell bodies and many long branched neurites that formed anestamosing networks. The neurons then coalesced and the neurites formed thick bundles. When the same numbers of neurons were grown on the top of astrocytes pre-treated with TNF-α, few neurons survived up to 13 days. The neurites of the survived neurons were shorter than neurites of neurons grown on normal astrocytes and did not form bundles. In addition, TNF-α stimulated the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) by astrocytes. These results support that the pro-inflammatory cytokine, TNF-α modulates the gliosis and that the astrocytic cell supports neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth.
Advances in Mechanical Circulatory Support Mechanical Circulatory Support for Advanced Heart Failure Patients and Technology in Evolution

After nearly 50 years of clinical development, durable mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices are widely available for patients with advanced heart failure. The field of circulatory support has matured dramatically in recent years, thanks to the advent of smaller, rotary pumps. The resulting transition away from older pulsatile devices has been swift. Accelerated use of continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) for long-term support has changed the face of advanced heart failure care. MCS candidate selection, risk stratification, and management strategies are evolving in tandem with new pump technology, producing a shift in the profiles of patients being considered for MCS. Timely referral for MCS evaluation and appropriate implantation now depends on familiarity with recent advances in pump design and clinical outcomes. This review, the first in a series on Advances in Mechanical Circulatory Support, will focus on durable intracorporeal LVADs used in adults with advanced heart failure, and highlight the evolution in both patients and technology.
Invited Commentary Invited Commentary: GE-Whiz! Ratcheting Gene-Environment Studies up to the Whole Genome and the Whole Exposome

One goal in the post-genome-wide association study era is characterizing gene-environment interactions, including scanning for interactions with all available polymorphisms, not just those showing significant main effects. In recent years, several approaches to such ‘‘gene-environment-wide interaction studies’’ have been proposed. Two contributions in this issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology provide systematic comparisons of the performance of these various approaches, one based on simulation and one based on application to 2 real genomewide association study scans for type 2 diabetes. The authors discuss some of the broader issues raised by these contributions, including the plausibility of the gene-environment independence assumption that some of these approaches rely upon, the need for replication, and various generalizations of these approaches.
Adaptive Dynamic Walking of a Quadruped Robot on Irregular Terrain Based on Biological Concepts

We have been trying to induce a quadruped robot to walk with medium walking speed on irregular terrain based on biological concepts. We propose the necessary conditions for stable dynamic walking on irregular terrain in general, and we design the mechanical system and the neural system by comparing biological concepts with those necessary conditions described in physical terms. A PD controller at the joints can construct the virtual spring-damper system as the visco-elasticity model of a muscle. The neural system model consists of a central pattern generator (CPG) and reflexes. A CPG receives sensory input and changes the period of its own active phase. The desired angle and P-gain of each joint in the virtual spring-damper system is switched based on the phase signal of the CPG. CPGs, the motion of the virtual spring-damper system of each leg and the rolling motion of the body are mutually entrained through the rolling motion feedback to CPGs, and can generate adaptive walking. We report on our experimental results of dynamic walking on terrains of medium degrees of irregularity in order to verify the effectiveness of the designed neuro-mechanical system. We point out the trade-off problem between the stability and the energy consumption in determining the cyclic period of walking on irregular terrain, and we show one example to solve this problem. MPEG footage of these experiments can be seen at http://www.kimura. is.uec. ac.jp.
Model for transition from upper to lower bainite

AbstractAn attempt is made to model the transition from upper to lower bainite in steels, based on the hypothesis that bainitic ferrite grows with a supersaturation of carbon in solid solution. The theory involves a comparison between the time required to reject the excess carbon into the residual austenite by diffusion and the time required to obtain a detectable degree of cementite precipitation in the bainitic ferrite. If the precipitation process is relatively rapid, then it is assumed that lower bainite is obtained. The results are found to be in broad agreement with published experimental data.MST/1095
Macroscopic stress–strain curve, local strain band behavior and the texture of NiTi thin sheets

The aim of the present study is to investigate the local strain band behavior in conjunction with the texture of NiTi thin sheets under mechanical loading. Firstly, we evaluate the transformation temperature by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the internal structure by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for NiTi thin sheets. Next, we investigate the texture by the x-ray diffraction method for two NiTi thin sheets with different textures. Then, we measure the local strain distribution arising in NiTi thin sheets under uniaxial tensile loading. Finally, we discuss the ‘mechanism of angle, nucleation and propagation for local strain band’ and the ‘relationship between the macroscopic stress–strain curve and local strain band behavior’ on the basis of results in the present study.
Mechanical Properties of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Made with Basalt Filament Fibers

AbstractFiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) has become a viable new material used in various constructions such as building pavements, large industrial floors, and runways. In this research, basalt chopped fibers in filament form were used to develop an FRC material called basalt fiber-reinforced concrete (BFRC) to study the possible improvement in the 28-day compressive strength and modulus of rupture, though the latter one is more important for the construction of pavements, industrial floors, and runways. The basalt fiber specimens were cast using basalt filament fibers of three different lengths and three different amounts. Clumping of fibers at high fiber amounts caused mixing and casting problems. These problems become even more severe when long fibers are used at the high fiber dosage amount. The results indicated that 36-mm-long chopped basalt filament fiber and a fiber amount of 8 kg/m3 are optimum for achieving high performance in both the compressive strength and modulus of rupture. This paper dis.
Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock.

of the Clinical Problem Sepsis results when the body’s response to infection causes lifethreatening organ dysfunction. Septic shock is sepsis that results in tissue hypoperfusion, with vasopressor-requiring hypotension and elevated lactate levels.1 Sepsis is a leading cause of death, morbidity, and expense, contributing to one-third to half of deaths of hospitalized patients,2 depending on definitions.3 Management of sepsis is a complicated clinical challenge requiring early recognition and management of infection, hemodynamic issues, and other organ dysfunctions.
The DNA Glycosylases Ogg1 and Nth1 Do Not Contribute to Ig Class Switching in Activated Mouse Splenic B Cells

During activation of B cells to undergo class switching, B cell metabolism is increased, and levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are increased. ROS can oxidize DNA bases resulting in substrates for the DNA glycosylases Ogg1 and Nth1. Ogg1 and Nth1 excise oxidized bases, and nick the resulting abasic sites, forming single-strand DNA breaks (SSBs) as intermediates during the repair process. In this study, we asked whether splenic B cells from mice deficient in these two enzymes would show altered class switching and decreased DNA breaks in comparison with wild-type mice. As the c-myc gene frequently recombines with the IgH S region in B cells induced to undergo class switching, we also analyzed the effect of deletion of these two glycosylases on DSBs in the c-myc gene. We did not detect a reduction in S region or c-myc DSBs or in class switching in splenic B cells from Ogg1- or Nth1-deficient mice or from mice deficient in both enzymes.
Beyond species: why ecological interaction networks vary through space and time

Community ecology is tasked with the considerable challenge of predicting the structure, and properties, of emerging ecosystems. It requires the ability to understand how and why species interact, as this will allow the development of mechanism-based predictive models, and as such to better characterize how ecological mechanisms act locally on the existence of interspecific interactions. Here we argue that the current conceptualization of species interaction networks is ill-suited for this task. Instead, we propose that future research must start to account for the intrinsic variability of species interactions, then scale up from here onto complex networks. This can be accomplished simply by recognizing that there exists intra-specific variability, in traits or properties related to the establishment of species interactions. By shifting the scale towards population-based processes, we show that this new approach will improve our predictive ability and mechanistic understanding of how species interact over large spatial or temporal scales.
Inhibition of Rho-Kinase Attenuates Hypoxia-Induced Angiogenesis in the Pulmonary Circulation

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common complication of chronic hypoxic lung diseases, which increase morbidity and mortality. Hypoxic PH has previously been attributed to structural changes in the pulmonary vasculature including narrowing of the vascular lumen and loss of vessels, which produce a fixed increase in resistance. Using quantitative stereology, we now show that chronic hypoxia caused PH and remodeling of the blood vessel walls in rats but that this remodeling did not lead to structural narrowing of the vascular lumen. Sustained inhibition of the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway throughout the period of hypoxic exposure attenuated PH and prevented remodeling in intra-acinar vessels without enlarging the structurally determined lumen diameter. In chronically hypoxic lungs, acute Rho kinase inhibition markedly decreased PVR but did not alter the alveolar to arterial oxygen gap. In addition to increased vascular resistance, chronic hypoxia induced Rho kinase–dependent capillary angiogenesis. Thus, hypoxic PH was not caused by fixed structural changes in the vasculature but by sustained vasoconstriction, which was largely Rho kinase dependent. Importantly, this vasoconstriction had no role in ventilation-perfusion matching and optimization of gas exchange. Rho kinase also mediated hypoxia-induced capillary angiogenesis, a previously unrecognized but potentially important adaptive response.
Service availability and utilization and treatment gap for schizophrenic disorders: a survey in 50 low- and middle-income countries.

OBJECTIVE To outline mental health service accessibility, estimate the treatment gap and describe service utilization for people with schizophrenic disorders in 50 low- and middle-income countries. METHODS The World Health Organization Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems was used to assess the accessibility of mental health services for schizophrenic disorders and their utilization. The treatment gap measurement was based on the number of cases treated per 100,000 persons with schizophrenic disorders, and it was compared with subregional estimates based on the Global burden of disease 2004 update report. Multivariate analysis using backward step-wise regression was performed to assess predictors of accessibility, treatment gap and service utilization. FINDINGS The median annual rate of treatment for schizophrenic disorders in mental health services was 128 cases per 100,000 population. The median treatment gap was 69% and was higher in participating low-income countries (89%) than in lower-middle-income and upper-middle-income countries (69% and 63%, respectively). Of the people with schizophrenic disorders, 80% were treated in outpatient facilities. The availability of psychiatrists and nurses in mental health facilities was found to be a significant predictor of service accessibility and treatment gap. CONCLUSION The treatment gap for schizophrenic disorders in the 50 low- and middle-income countries in this study is disconcertingly large and outpatient facilities bear the major burden of care. The significant predictors found suggest an avenue for improving care in these countries.
Combining Stochastic and Rule-Based Methods for Disambiguation in Agglutinative Languages

In this paper we present the results of the combination of stochastic and rule-based disambiguation methods applied to Basque language1. The methods we have used in disambiguation are Constraint Grammar formalism and an HMM based tagger developed within the MULTEXT project. As Basque is an agglutinative language, a morphological analyser is needed to attach all possible readings to each word. Then, CG rules are applied using all the morphological features and this process decreases morphological ambiguity of texts. Finally, we use the MULTEXT project tools to select just one from the possible remaining tags.Using only the stochastic method the error rate is about 14%, but the accuracy may be increased by about 2% enriching the lexicon with the unknown words. When both methods are combined, the error rate of the whole process is 3.5%. Considering that the training corpus is quite small, that the HMM model is a first order one and that Constraint Grammar of Basque language is still in progress, we think that this combined method can achieve good results, and it would be appropriate for other agglutinative languages.
Novel Human Parechovirus from Brazil

Human parechoviruses (HPeVs) were detected by reverse transcription–PCR in 16.1% of 335 stool samples from children <6 years of age with enteritis in Salvador, Brazil. Whole genome sequencing of 1 sample showed a novel HPeV that has been designated as HPeV8.