Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mechanical, Hormonal and Psychological Effects of a Non-Failure Short-Term Strength Training Program in Young Tennis Players

Abstract This study examined the effects of a 6-week non-failure strength training program in youth tennis players. Twenty tennis players (age: 15.0 ± 1 years, body height: 170.9 ± 5.1 cm, body mass: 63.3 ± 9.1 kg) were divided into experimental and control groups. Pre and post-tests included half squats, bench press, squat jumps, countermovementjumps and side-ball throws. Salivary cortisol samples were collected, and the Profile of Mood States questionnaire was used weekly during an anatomical adaptation period, a main training period and after a tapering week. The results showed that, after the main training period, the experimental group significantly improved (p<0.05) in mean and peak power output and in the total number of repetitions during the half-squat endurance test; mean force, power and velocity in the half-squat power output test; Profile of Mood States (in total mood disturbance between the last week of the mean training period and the tapering week); and in squat-jump and countermovement-jump height. Moreover, significant differences were found between the groups at the post-tests in the total number of repetitions, mean and peak power during the half-squat endurance test, mean velocity in the half-squat power output test, salivary cortisol concentration (baselines, first and third week of the mean training period) and in the Profile of Mood States (in fatigue subscale: first and third week of the mean training period). In conclusion, a non-failure strength training protocol improved lower-limb performance levels and produced a moderate psychophysiological impact in youth elite tennis players, suggesting that it is a suitable program to improve strength. Such training protocols do not increase the total training load of tennis players and may be recommended to improve strength.
Hepatitis A: Old and New

INTRODUCTION . 39 “Viruses” . 39 Historical Epidemic Jaundice . 39 Infectious Agent of Epidemic Jaundice . 39 Viral Etiology of Epidemic Hepatitis . 39 Virologic Classification . 39 HEPATITIS A VIRUS . 40 Genome Organization . 40 Proteins . 40 Life Cycle . 40 Replication . 40 Detection . 40 TRANSMISSION . 41 Oral Transmission.41 Parenteral Transmission . 41 Infectious Hepatitis versus Serum Jaundice.41 Willowbrook State School MS-1 and MS-2.41 MODERN-ERA TRANSMISSION . 42 Personal Contact.42 Food-Borne Hepatitis A . 42 Waterborne Outbreaks.43 Nosocomial Hepatitis A . 43 Parenteral Hepatitis A Transmission . 43 Homosexual Transmission.43 PATHOLOGY.43 Percutaneous Liver Biopsy . 43 Modern-Era Liver Biopsy . 44 HAV Detection.44 IMMUNOLOGY.44 Humoral Immune Response.44 Cellular Immune Response . 44 SEROLOGY.45 Diagnostic Accuracy . 45 Future Assays . 46 CLINICAL DISEASE . 46 Sporadic Hepatitis A . 46 Endemic Hepatitis A . 46 Epidemic Hepatitis A . 46 Epidemic Hepatitis and War.46 Common Clinical Features.47 Anicteric and Asymptomatic Hepatitis . 48 Laboratory Investigations of Acute Hepatitis A . 49 Relapsing, Prolonged, and Cholestatic Hepatitis A.49 Fulminant Hepatitis A . 49 Chronic Liver Disease and Acute Hepatitis A.50 Extrahepatic Manifestations . 50 MANAGEMENT . 51 PREVENTION AND RISK OF INFECTION . 51 Gamma Globulin (Passive Immunoprophylaxis) . 51 Vaccination (Active Immunoprophylaxis) . 52
A resonant DC-DC transformer

The characteristics of a push-pull parallel resonant converter (PPRC) when operated as a DC-DC transformer were investigated theoretically and experimentally. In the DC-DC transformer region, the voltage transfer ratio was found to be practically constant and independent of the input voltage and load. In this mode, all the switching elements operate in the zero voltage switching (ZVS) conditions. This helps to achieve high efficiency at high switching frequencies Another important feature of the proposed DC-DC transformer is the ability to be driven by an arbitrary switching frequency, provided that it is lower than the self-oscillating frequency. This permits the synchronization of the converter to a master clock to obtain a stable signal spectrum of a desired base frequency. The analytical expressions for the peak voltages and currents derived are applied to the converter. The proposed topology was tested experimentally on a 100 W unit which was run in the 200 kHz frequency region. <<ETX>>
On the Practicality of Private Information Retrieval

A polyether imide resin composition is proposed which has improved ductility and is less harmful to mating parts during sliding and thus can be used as the material for parts requiring rub resistance and abrasion resistance. It comprises 50-99.5 percent by weight of a polyether imide and 50-0.5 percent by weight of a vulcanizable organopolysiloxane elastomer.
2,5-PRODAN Derivatives as Highly Sensitive Sensors of Low Solvent Acidity

Two 5-acyl-2-dimethylaminonaphthalene derivatives, one with a propionyl group and the other with a fused cyclohexanone ring, are investigated as sensors of H-bond-donating ability in protic solvents of low solvent acidity. Their fluorescence is highly quenched in protic solvents, and the quenching order of magnitude is linearly related to the H-bond-donating ability of the solvent as quantified by the solvent acidity (SA) scale. As the solvent acidity increases from 0.15 to 0.40, the fluorescence for both is quenched by more than a factor of ten; thus, they are extremely sensitive sensors of the hydrogen-bond-donating ability in this weakly acidic range. Preferential solvation studies suggest that quenching occurs from a doubly H-bonded excited state.
D-branes in non-critical superstrings and duality in Script N = 1 gauge theories with flavor

We study D-branes in the superstring background IR 3,1 × SL(2,IR)k=1/U(1) which are extended in the cigar direction. Some of these branes are new. The branes realize flavor in the four dimensional N = 1 gauge theories on the D-branes localized at the tip of the cigar. We study the analytic properties of the boundary conformal field theories on these branes with respect to their defining parameter and find non-trivial monodromies in this parameter. Through this approach, we gain a better understanding of the brane set-ups in ten dimensions involving wrapped NS5-branes. As one application, using the boundary conformal field theory description of the electric and magnetic D-branes, we can understand electric-magnetic (Seiberg) duality in N = 1 SQCD microscopically in a string theoretic context.
Variational delay metrics for interconnect timing analysis

In this paper we develop an approach to model interconnect delay under process variability for timing analysis and physical design optimization. The technique allows for closed-form computation of interconnect delay probability density functions (PDFs) given variations in relevant process parameters such as linewidth, metal thickness, and dielectric thickness. We express the resistance and capacitance of a line as a linear function of random variables and then use these to compute circuit moments. Finally, these variability-aware moments are used in known closedform delay metrics to compute interconnect delay PDFs. We compare the approach to SPICE based Monte Carlo simulations and report an error in mean and standard deviation of delay of 1% and 4% on average, respectively.
Single-nucleotide polymorphisms and other mismatches reduce performance of quantitative PCR assays.

BACKGROUND Genome-sequencing studies have led to an immense increase in the number of known single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Designing primers that anneal to regions devoid of SNPs has therefore become challenging. We studied the impact of one or more mismatches in primer-annealing sites on different quantitative PCR (qPCR)-related parameters, such as quantitative cycle (Cq), amplification efficiency, and reproducibility. METHODS We used synthetic templates and primers to assess the effect of mismatches at primer-annealing sites on qPCR assay performance. Reactions were performed with 5 commercially available master mixes. We studied the effects of the number, type, and position of priming mismatches on Cq value, PCR efficiency, reproducibility, and yield. RESULTS The impact of mismatches was most pronounced for the number of mismatched nucleotides and for their distance from the 3' end of the primer. In addition, having ≥4 mismatches in a single primer or having 3 mismatches in one primer and 2 in the other was required to block a reaction completely. Finally, the degree of the mismatch effect was concentration independent for single mismatches, whereas concentration independence failed at higher template concentrations as the number of mismatches increased. CONCLUSIONS Single mismatches located >5 bp from the 3' end have a moderate effect on qPCR amplification and can be tolerated. This finding, together with the concentration independence for single mismatches and the complete blocking of the PCR reaction for ≥4 mismatches, can help to chart mismatch behavior in qPCR reactions and increase the rate of successful primer design for sequences with a high SNP density or for homologous regions of sequence.
Parssec: A Parallel Simulation Environment for Complex Systems

Design and development costs for extremely large systems could be significantly reduced if only there were efficient techniques for evaluating design alternatives and predicting their impact on overall system performance metrics. Due to the systems' analytical intractability, simulation is the most common performance evaluation technique for such systems. However, the long execution times needed for sequential simulation models often hampers evaluation. The slow speeds of sequential model execution have led to growing interest in the use of parallel execution for simulating large-scale systems. Widespread use of parallel simulation, however; has been significantly hindered by a lack of tools for integrating parallel model execution into the overall framework of system simulation. Another drawback to widespread use of simulations is the cost of model design and maintenance. The simulation environment the authors developed at UCLA attempts to address some of these issues. It consists of three primary components: a parallel simulation language called Parsec (parallel simulation environment for complex systems), its GUI, called Pave, and the portable runtime system that implements the simulation algorithms.
Is that really my movement?—Students' experiences of a video-supported interactive learning model for movement awareness

Healthcare staff and students have a great risk of developing musculoskeletal symptoms. One cause of this is heavy load related work activities such as manual handling, in which the quality of individual work technique may play a major role. Preventive interventions and well-defined educational strategies to support movement awareness and long-lasting movement changes need to be developed. The aim of the present study was to explore nursing students’ experiences of a newly developed interactive learning model for movement awareness. The learning model, which is based on a life-world perspective with focus on interpersonal interaction, has been used with 11 undergraduate students from the second and final year. Each student participated in three individual video sessions with a facilitator. Two individual interviews were carried out with each student during the learning process and one interview 12–18 months after the last session. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, and a phenomenological hermeneutic method inspired by Paul Ricoeur and described by Lindseth and Norberg was used to interpret the interviews and diary notes. The interpretation resulted in three key themes and nine subthemes. The key themes were; “Obtaining better preconditions for bodily awareness,” “Experiencing changes in one's own movement,” and “Experiencing challenges in the learning process. ” The interactive learning model entails a powerful and challenging experience that develops movement awareness. The experience of meaningfulness and usefulness emerges increasingly and alternates with a feeling of discomfort. The learning model may contribute to the body of knowledge of well-defined educational strategies in movement awareness and learning in, for example, preventive interventions and ergonomic education. It may also be valuable in other practical learning situations where movement awareness is required.
Comparison of anesthetic efficacy of 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine and 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 epinephrine for inferior alveolar nerve block in patients with irreversible pulpitis

Objectives: This study was done to compare the anesthetic efficacy of 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine with that of 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 epinephrine during pulpectomy in patients with irreversible pulpitis for inferior alveolar nerve block in mandibular posterior teeth. Material and Methods: Patients with irreversible pulpitis referred to the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, K.D. Dental College, randomly received a conventional inferior alveolar nerve block containing 1.8 mL of either 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine or 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 epinephrine. After the patient’s subjective assessment of lip anesthesia, the absence/presence of pulpal anesthesia through electric pulp stimulation was recorded and the absence/presence of pain was recorded through visual analogue scale. Results: The pulpal anesthesia success for articaine (76%) was slightly more than with lidocaine (58%) as measured with pulp tester as well as for the pain reported during the procedure the success rate of articaine (88%) was slightly more than that of lidocaine (82%) although the difference between the two solutions was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Both the local anesthetic solutions had similar effects on patients with irreversible pulpitis when used for inferior alveolar nerve block. Key words:Anesthesia, articaine, lignocaine, pulpitis.
Serum angiotensin I—converting enzyme is reduced in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis irrespective of genotype

OBJECTIVES:Crohn's disease (CD) is recognized to be a vascular endothelial-associated disease. Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) exists mainly in endothelial cells. There are some reports on serum ACE levels in patients with CD, but the ACE level is still controversial. Recently, genetic control of serum ACE levels by ACE gene polymorphisms (classified as II, ID, and DD) has been suggested. Although we must consider such polymorphisms to elucidate ACE levels in patients with CD, there is no report about this.METHODS:We studied 341 healthy controls (male/female = 178/162), 39 patients with CD (31/8), 43 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) (22/21) and 19 patients with infectious enterocolitis (8/11). The polymorphism in intron 16 of the ACE gene was examined by PCR. Serum ACE levels were measured by the method of Kasahara.RESULTS:Serum ACE levels in patients with CD and UC were significantly lower than in healthy controls, irrespective of the genotype of ACE (genotype II: CD 7.0 ± 2.5 [mean ± SD], UC 7.1 ± 3.3, controls 11.8 ± 2.9, genotype ID: CD 9.7 ± 4.1, UC 11.4 ± 4.6, controls 15.2 ± 3.6, genotype DD: CD 13.9 ± 5.8, UC 10.7 ± 3.6, controls 19.3 ± 3.9 IU/L, controls vs CD, UC; p < 0.01, 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in serum ACE levels between CD and UC.CONCLUSIONS:Considering ACE gene polymorphism, serum ACE levels in patients with inflammatory bowel disease are lower than in controls. Serum ACE levels reflect a part of the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease.
A fast algorithm for the simulation of polycrystalline misfits. II. Martensitic transformations in three space dimensions

We present a fast numerical method for the simulation of martensitic transformations in three–dimensional polycrystals. To produce the relevant overall elastic energy arising from given boundary conditions, this method proceeds by reducing the corresponding non–convex minimization problem to minimization of a certain quadratic form—over the set of arrays of transformation strains which are compatible with a given distribution of crystallite orientations. The evaluation of this quadratic form for a given array of transformation strains requires solution of certain linear elasticity problems. An acceleration strategy we use, which for a polycrystal containing N grains reduces the complexity of the algorithm from O(N2) to O(N) operations, results from a formulation of the minimization problem which takes advantage of certain decorrelations present in the minimizing arrays of transformation strains. We illustrate our presentation with a number of examples involving cubic–to–monoclinic and cubic–to–orthorhombic polycrystalline phase transitions, such as those arising in the TiNi and CuAl shape–memory alloys. In particular, our study quantifies the effects of texture on the overall properties of such polycrystalline shape–memory alloys.
Long-term Survival of Dialysis Patients With Bacterial Endocarditis Undergoing Valvular Replacement Surgery in the United States

Background— Bacterial endocarditis in dialysis patients is associated with high mortality rates. The literature is limited on the long-term outcomes of valvular replacement surgery and the choice of prosthesis in dialysis patients with bacterial endocarditis. Methods and Results— Dialysis patients hospitalized for bacterial endocarditis from 2004 to 2007 were studied retrospectively using data from the United States Renal Data System. Long-term survival of patients undergoing valve replacement surgery with tissue or nontissue valves was compared by use of the Kaplan-Meier method. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify independent predictors of mortality in patients undergoing valvular replacement surgery. During the study period, 11 156 dialysis patients were hospitalized for bacterial endocarditis and 1267 (11.4%) underwent valvular replacement surgery (tissue valve, 44.3%; nontissue valve, 55.7%). In the valve replacement cohort, 60% were men, 50% were white, 54% were 45 to 64 years of age, and 36% were diabetic. Estimated survival with tissue and nontissue valves at 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 years was 59% and 60%, 48% and 50%, 35% and 37%, and 25% and 30%, respectively (log-rank P=0.42). Staphylococcus was the predominant organism (66% of identified organisms). Independent predictors of mortality in patients undergoing valve replacement surgery included older age, diabetes mellitus as the cause of end-stage renal disease, surgery during index hospitalization, staphylococcus as the causative organism, and dysrhythmias as a comorbid condition. Conclusions— Valve replacement surgery is appropriate for well-selected dialysis patients with bacterial endocarditis but is associated with high mortality rates. Survival does not differ with tissue or nontissue prosthesis.
Orthostatic Hypotension in the ACCORD (Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes) Blood Pressure Trial: Prevalence, Incidence, and Prognostic Significance

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is associated with hypertension and diabetes mellitus. However, in populations with both hypertension and diabetes mellitus, its prevalence, the effect of intensive versus standard systolic blood pressure (BP) targets on incident OH, and its prognostic significance are unclear. In 4266 participants in the ACCORD (Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes) BP trial, seated BP was measured 3×, followed by readings every minute for 3 minutes after standing. Orthostatic BP change, calculated as the minimum standing minus the mean seated systolic BP and diastolic BP, was assessed at baseline, 12 months, and 48 months. The relationship between OH and clinical outcomes (total and cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, heart failure hospitalization or death and the primary composite outcome of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, and cardiovascular death) was assessed using proportional hazards analysis. Consensus OH, defined by orthostatic decline in systolic BP ≥20 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥10 mm Hg, occurred at ≥1 time point in 20% of participants. Neither age nor systolic BP treatment target (intensive, <120 mm Hg versus standard, <140 mm Hg) was related to OH incidence. Over a median follow-up of 46.9 months, OH was associated with increased risk of total death (hazard ratio, 1.61; 95% confidence interval, 1.11–2.36) and heart failure death/hospitalization (hazard ratio, 1.85, 95% confidence interval, 1.17–2.93), but not with the primary outcome or other prespecified outcomes. In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension, OH was common, not associated with intensive versus standard BP treatment goals, and predicted increased mortality and heart failure events.
Role of persistent processus vaginalis in hydroceles found in a tropical population.

BACKGROUND Lymphatic obstruction by Wuchereria bancrofti is thought to be the mechanism for development of tropical hydrocele in men and for elephantiasis, mostly in women. Hydrocele prevalence is used to determine the effectiveness of para site eradication programs. METHODS We maintained a prospective log of operations performed at 1 Canadian Field Hospital during its relief mission to Léogâne, Haiti. Information regarding duration of symptoms, type of previous surgery (if any), surgical approach, associated inguinal hernia and volume and appearance of hydrocele fluid in patients with tropical hydroceles were recorded. RESULTS From January to March 2010, 4922 patients were seen, none of whom had elephantiasis. Of the 64 patients who collectively underwent 69 inguino-scrotal procedures, 5 patients had inguinal hernia repair several years after hydrocele excision via the scrotum, 19 patients with bilateral hydroceles underwent a scrotum-only approach, and 45 patients had an inguinal approach (33 unilateral and 12 bilateral) to repair 57 hydroceles. A patent processus vaginalis was present in 50 of 57 (88%) hydroceles where the groin was explored. CONCLUSION Hydroceles remain common in LÃ©ogÃ¢ne despite successful eradication of filariasis with mass drug administration using diethylcarbamazine-fortified cooking salt. Persistent patent processus vaginalis is a more likely cause than persistent filariasis. There is probably little difference between hydrocele in developed countries and tropical hydrocele other than neglect. Hydrocele prevalence is not a measure of the effectiveness of parasite eradication programs.