Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is There an Optimal Ischemic-Preconditioning Dose to Improve Cycling Performance?

INTRODUCTION Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) may enhance endurance performance. No previous study has directly compared distinct IPC protocols for optimal benefit. PURPOSE To determine whether a specific IPC protocol (ie, number of cycles, amount of muscle tissue, and local vs remote occlusion) elicits greater performance outcomes. METHODS Twelve cyclists performed 5 different IPC protocols 30 min before a blinded 375-kJ cycling time trial (TT) in a laboratory. Responses to traditional IPC (4 × 5-min legs) were compared with those to 8 × 5-min legs and sham (dose cycles), 4 × 5-min unilateral legs (dose tissue), and 4 × 5-min arms (remote). Rating of perceived exertion and blood lactate were recorded at each 25% TT completion. Power (W), heart rate (beats/min), and oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]) (mL · kg-1 · min-1) were measured continuously throughout TTs. Magnitude-based-inference statistics were employed to compare variable differences to the minimal practically important difference. RESULTS Traditional IPC was associated with a 17-s (0, 34) faster TT time than sham. Applying more dose cycles (8 × 5 min) had no impact on performance. Traditional IPC was associated with likely trivial higher blood lactate and possibly beneficial lower [Formula: see text] responses vs sham. Unilateral IPC was associated with 18-s (-11, 48) slower performance than bilateral (dose tissue). TT times after remote and local IPC were not different (0 [-16, 16] s). CONCLUSION The traditional 4 × 5-min (local or remote) IPC stimulus resulted in the fastest TT time compared with sham; there was no benefit of applying a greater number of cycles or employing unilateral IPC.
Computational analysis and design formula development for the design of curved plates for ships and offshore structures

In general, cylindrically curved plates are used in ships and offshore structures such as wind towers, spa structures, fore and aft side shell plating, and bilge circle parts in merchant vessels. In a number of studies, it has been shown that curvature increases the buckling strength of a plate under compressive loading, and the ultimate load-carrying capacity is also expected to increase. In the present paper, a series of elastic and elastoplastic large deflection analyses were performed using the commercial finite element analysis program (MSC.NASTRAN/PATRAN) in order to clarify and examine the fundamental buckling and collapse behaviors of curved plates subjected to combined axial compression and lateral pressure. On the basis of the numerical results, the effects of curvature, the magnitude of the initial deflection, the slenderness ratio, and the aspect ratio on the characteristics of the buckling and collapse behavior of the curved plates are discussed. On the basis of the calculated results, the design formula was developed to predict the buckling and ultimate strengths of curved plates subjected to combined loads in an analytical manner. The buckling strength behaviors were simulated by performing elastic large deflection analyses. The newly developed formulations were applied in order to perform verification analyses for the curved plates by comparing the numerical results, and then, the usefulness of the proposed method was demonstrated.
Exploring the Life Expectancy Increase in Poland in the Context of CVD Mortality Fall

Life expectancy at birth is considered the best mortality-based summary indicator of the health status of the population and is useful for measuring long-term health changes. The objective of this article was to present the concept of the bottom-up policy risk assessment approach, developed to identify challenges involved in analyzing risk factor reduction policies and in assessing how the related health indicators have changed over time. This article focuses on the reasons of the significant life expectancy prolongation in Poland over the past 2 decades, thus includes policy context. The methodology details a bottom-up risk assessment approach, a chain of relations between the health outcome, risk factors, and health policy, based on Risk Assessment From Policy to Impact Dimension project guidance. A decline in cardiovascular disease mortality was a key factor that followed life expectancy prolongation. Among basic factors, tobacco and alcohol consumption, diet, physical activity, and new treatment technologies were identified. Poor health outcomes of the Polish population at the beginning of 1990s highlighted the need of the implementation of various health promotion programs, legal acts, and more effective public health policies. Evidence-based public health policy needs translating scientific research into policy and practice. The bottom-up case study template can be one of the focal tools in this process. Accountability for the health impact of policies and programs and legitimization of the decisions of policy makers has become one of the key questions nowadays in European countries’ decision-making process and in EU public health strategy.
Dynamic Female Labor Supply

The increase in female employment and participation rates is one of the most dramatic economic changes to have taken place during the last century. However, while the employment rate of married women more than doubled during the last fifty years, that of unmarried women remained almost constant. In order to empirically analyze these trends we divide the paper into two parts: In the first, we empirically estimate a traditional female dynamic labor supply model using an extended version of Eckstein and Wolpin (1989) in order to compare the various explanations in the literature for the observed trends. The main finding is that the rise in education levels accounts for about one-third of the increase in female employment while about 40 percent remains unexplained by observed household characteristics. We show that this unexplained portion can be empirically attributed to changes in preferences or the costs of childrearing and household maintenance. In the second part, we formulate and estimate a new framework for the couple intra-family game that is then used to analyze the household dynamic labor supply. We find that female labor supply may have increased significantly due to a change in the form of the household game.
Neuraminidase 1 (NEU1) promotes proliferation and migration as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the most malignant cancers worldwide, lacking biomarkers for subtyping and the reliable prognostication. Herein, we report a novel biomarker, NEU1 (neuraminidase 1), is up-regulated in most samples of HCC. The diagnostic value of NEU1 was evaluated by ROC, and the AUC (area under curve) reached 0.87 and 0.96 in two independent datasets, respectively. The survival differences of HCC patients with high or low expression of NEU1 were statistically significant, and a significant correlation between NEU1 expression and clinical information including stage, differentiation, AFP and embolus were observed. NEU1 expression, at both the mRNA and protein levels, were also higher in the portal vein tumor thrombus than tumor tissues. We also measured the proliferation and migration ability of two HCC cell lines following NEU1 interference and over-expression. Migration and proliferation rate were increased in NEU1 high expression groups. Moreover, gene expression studies identified pathways significantly associated with NEU1 expression. Among them, all the genes involved in spliceosomepathway were up regulated in NEU1-high group. In summary, our work identified NEU1 as a novel biomarker for both diagnosis and prognosis in HCC, and one of the most altered pathway of NEU1 is spliceosome.
The diagnostic value of EUS in pancreatic cystic neoplasms compared with CT and MRI

Background and Objectives: Pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCNs) are being increasingly identified. Recent reports have described the utility of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the characterization of PCNs. This study presents the diagnostic value of EUS in PCNs. Materials and Methods: A total of 108 patients (78 women and 30 men; average age, 50 years) who were confirmed pathologically to have PCNs were analyzed retrospectively. We analyzed the clinical characteristics of 108 patients and compared the diagnostic performance of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and EUS with or without fine-needle aspiration (FNA). Results: EUS with or without FNA significantly increased the accuracy for diagnosing PCNs compared with CT (P = 0.002) and MRI (P = 0.006). According to the tumor size, the further analysis of these impacts was provided. EUS was superior to CT in the characterization of PCNs in small (< 3 cm) lesions (P = 0.003), similarly superior to MRI in large (>3 cm) lesions (P = 0.030). Furthermore, EUS is valuable for precisely characterizing internal structures, for example, septa (P = 0.004, compared with CT; P = 0.033, compared with MRI) and mural nodules (P = 0.028, compared with CT). Conclusions: In our study, EUS with or without FNA is the ideal tool for providing detailed imaging of PCNs and performed better than MRI and CT.
Preliminary Assessment of Wind and Wave Retrieval from Chinese Gaofen-3 SAR Imagery

The Chinese Gaofen-3 (GF-3) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) launched by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) has operated at C-band since September 2016. To date, we have collected 16/42 images in vertical-vertical (VV)/horizontal-horizontal (HH) polarization, covering the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) buoy measurements of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) around U.S. western coastal waters. Wind speeds from NDBC in situ buoys are up to 15 m/s and buoy-measured significant wave height (SWH) has ranged from 0.5 m to 3 m. In this study, winds were retrieved using the geophysical model function (GMF) together with the polarization ratio (PR) model and waves were retrieved using a new empirical algorithm based on SAR cutoff wavelength in satellite flight direction, herein called CSAR_WAVE. Validation against buoy measurements shows a 1.4/1.9 m/s root mean square error (RMSE) of wind speed and a 24/23% scatter index (SI) of SWH for VV/HH polarization. In addition, wind and wave retrieval results from 166 GF-3 images were compared with the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) re-analysis winds, as well as the SWH from the WaveWatch-III model, respectively. Comparisons show a 2.0 m/s RMSE for wind speed with a 36% SI of SWH for VV-polarization and a 2.2 m/s RMSE for wind speed with a 37% SI of SWH for HH-polarization. Our work gives a preliminary assessment of the wind and wave retrieval results from GF-3 SAR images for the first time and will provide guidance for marine applications of GF-3 SAR.
Energy Management in Smart Cities Based on Internet of Things: Peak Demand Reduction and Energy Savings

Around the globe, innovation with integrating information and communication technologies (ICT) with physical infrastructure is a top priority for governments in pursuing smart, green living to improve energy efficiency, protect the environment, improve the quality of life, and bolster economy competitiveness. Cities today faces multifarious challenges, among which energy efficiency of homes and residential dwellings is a key requirement. Achieving it successfully with the help of intelligent sensors and contextual systems would help build smart cities of the future. In a Smart home environment Home Energy Management plays a critical role in finding a suitable and reliable solution to curtail the peak demand and achieve energy conservation. In this paper, a new method named as Home Energy Management as a Service (HEMaaS) is proposed which is based on neural network based Q-learning algorithm. Although several attempts have been made in the past to address similar problems, the models developed do not cater to maximize the user convenience and robustness of the system. In this paper, authors have proposed an advanced Neural Fitted Q-learning method which is self-learning and adaptive. The proposed method provides an agile, flexible and energy efficient decision making system for home energy management. A typical Canadian residential dwelling model has been used in this paper to test the proposed method. Based on analysis, it was found that the proposed method offers a fast and viable solution to reduce the demand and conserve energy during peak period. It also helps reducing the carbon footprint of residential dwellings. Once adopted, city blocks with significant residential dwellings can significantly reduce the total energy consumption by reducing or shifting their energy demand during peak period. This would definitely help local power distribution companies to optimize their resources and keep the tariff low due to curtailment of peak demand.
Influence of Xe Ion-Bombardment on the Substrate Microstructure and the Residual Stresses of Tin Coatings Deposited by Plasma Reactive Sputtering onto AISI 4140 Steel

The seek for sustainability in the global economic scenario has led to the need for developing materials that provide higher productivity, greater speed of operation, extended lifetimes and enhanced surface finishing of engineering parts. To achieve these goals it is essential to modify the metal surface with respect to its behavior in situations of friction, wear and oxidation at high temperatures. In this work, we studied the impact of different surface treatment strategies involving atomic peening with Xe ions and low temperature plasma nitriding on the surface microstructure of AISI 4140steel and the consequences of those surface treatments on the residual stresses of TiN coatings deposited onto the pre-treated substrates. The results show that ion bombardment at 1000 eV leads to mainly sputtering of surface material and no appreciable surface activation could be obtained for the subsequent plasma nitriding treatment. In the sample subjected to simple plasma nitriding, the highest nitride content was found and a Ti-enriched transition zone deposition appears to build up during the coating deposition. Accordingly the residual stresses of the TiN coatings deposited onto the nitrided steel surface were significantly lower in comparison to those encountered in the coatings grown on the non-treated, only bombarded and bombarded followed by nitriding substrates.
The effect of congruence in patient and therapist alliance on patient's symptomatic levels

Abstract Objective: The ability of alliance to predict outcome has been widely demonstrated, but less is known about the effect of the level of congruence between patient and therapist alliance ratings on outcome. In the current study we examined whether the degree of congruence between patient and therapist alliance ratings can predict symptomatic levels 1 month later in treatment. Method: The sample consisted of 127 patient–therapist dyads. Patients and therapists reported on their alliance levels, and patients reported their symptomatic levels 1 month later. Polynomial regression and response surface analysis were used to examine congruence. Results: Findings suggest that when the congruence level of patient and therapist alliance ratings was not taken into account, only the therapist's alliance served as a significant predictor of symptomatic levels. But when the degree of congruence between patient and therapist alliance ratings was considered, the degree of congruence was a significant predictor of symptomatic levels 1 month later in treatment. Conclusions: Findings support the importance of the level of congruence between patient and therapist alliance ratings in predicting patient's symptomatic levels.
Usutu virus in cerebrospinal fluid: A 2‐year survey in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland

In 2009, the Usutu virus (USUV) was first reported as a cause of human neuroinvasive disorders. In Switzerland, USUV has been detected in wild birds with a seroprevalence of up to 6.59% in captive specimens sampled from zoo enclosures. This study investigates the clinical prevalence of USUV in human acute neuroinvasive disorders in Switzerland. Two hundred and fifty‐eight cerebrospinal fluid samples collected between 2015 and 2017 for routine clinical care in a tertiary level hospital (Geneva) were tested for USUV by rRT‐PCR. No samples were found positive, suggesting the absence, or the extremely low circulation of USUV in Western Switzerland.
An approximate algorithm for combinatorial optimization problems with two parameters

We call a minimum cost restricted time combinatorial optimization (MCRT) problem any problem that has a finite set P, finite family S of subsets of P, non-negative threshold h, and two non-negative real-valued functions y : (say, cost) and x : p.-? R+ (say, time). One seeks a solution F* E S with y(F*) min{y(F): F E S, x(F):S h}, where x(G) L:gEGx(g), y(G) = L:gEGy(g) and G E S. We also assume that for the corresponding minimum cost problem there is an efficient exact or approximate algorithm. We describe a very simple approximate algo rithm for any MCRT problem. Though our algorithm is not polynomial in general, we provide some evidence that the algorithm may be fairly fast in many cases.
Finite Deformation Effects in Plasticity Analysis.

Abstract : The non-linear kinematics of the combination of elastic and plastic deformations at finite strain provides the mathematical structure to examine aspects of elastic-plastic analysis more succinctly than is possible with the approach based on infinitesimal elastic strain. Kinematic hardening represents the anisotropic component of strain hardening by a back stress alpha. Application of current theory for finite deformation incorporates the effect of finite rotation by using the Jaumann derivative in the evolution equation for alpha. This approach predicts oscillating shear stress for monotonically increasing simple shear strain but this anomaly can be eliminated by adopting a physically more meaningful modified Jaumann derivative. (Author)
The animal naming test: An easy tool for the assessment of hepatic encephalopathy

Screening for hepatic encephalopathy (HE) that does not cause obvious disorientation or asterixis (minimal HE [MHE]/grade 1 HE) is important. We examined if the animal naming test (ANT1) (maximum number of animals listed in 1 minute) is useful in this context. In total, 208 healthy controls, 40 controls with inflammatory bowel disease, and 327 consecutive patients with cirrhosis underwent the ANT1. Patients were tested for MHE by the psychometric HE score, and 146 were assessed by electroencephalography; 202 patients were followed up regarding the occurrence of overt HE and death. In the healthy controls, ANT1 was influenced by limited education (<8 years) and advanced age (>80 years, P < 0.001). Using an age and education adjusting procedure, the simplified ANT1 (S‐ANT1) was obtained. An S‐ANT1 of <10 animals was abnormal. Of the patients, 169 were considered unimpaired, 32 as having HE ≥grade 2, and 126 as having MHE/grade 1 HE. This group had lower S‐ANT1 than unimpaired patients (12 ± 0.4 versus 16 ± 0.7, P < 0.001) and higher S‐ANT1 than those with HE ≥grade 2 (4 ± 0.9). In grade 1 HE the S‐ANT1 was lower than in MHE. Following receiver operating characteristic analysis (Youden's index), 15 animals produced the best discrimination between unimpaired and MHE/grade 1 HE patients. Thus, a three‐level score (0 for S‐ANT1 ≥15, 1 for 10 ≤ S‐ANT1 < 15, 2 for S‐ANT1 <10) was obtained. This score was correlated both to the psychometric HE score (P < 0.0001) and to electroencephalography (P = 0.007). By sample random split validation, both S‐ANT1 and its three‐level score showed prognostic value regarding the 1‐year risk of overt HE and death. No inflammatory bowel disease control had S‐ANT <15. Conclusion: The S‐ANT1 is an easily obtainable measure useful for the assessment of HE. (Hepatology 2017;66:198–208).
Reproducibility and validity of a quantitative FFQ designed for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus from southern Brazil

Abstract Objective To evaluate the reproducibility and validity of a previously constructed FFQ to assess the usual diet of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Design Cross-sectional survey using two quantitative FFQ (1-month interval) supported by a food photograph portfolio, a 3 d weighed diet record (WDR) and urinary N output measurement (as a biomarker of protein intake). Setting Group of Nutrition in Endocrinology, southern Brazil. Subjects Out-patients with T2DM. Results From a total of 104 eligible T2DM patients, eighty-eight were included in the evaluation of FFQ reproducibility and seventy-two provided data for the validity study. The intakes estimated from the two FFQ did not differ (P > 0·05) and the correlation coefficients were significant (P < 0·01) for energy and nutrients, ranging from 0·451 (soluble fibre) to 0·936 (PUFA). Regarding the validity evaluation, data from the FFQ were higher than those from the WDR for total (28·3 %), soluble (27·4 %) and insoluble fibres (29·1 %), and SFA (13·5 %), MUFA (11·1 %) and total lipids (9·2 %; all P < 0·05). There were significant correlation coefficients between the FFQ and WDR for most nutrients, when adjusted for energy intake and de-attenuated. Also, the Bland–Altman plots between the FFQ and WDR for energy and macronutrient intakes showed that the FFQ may be used as alternative method to the WDR. The validity coefficient (using the method of triads) for the FFQ protein intake was 0·522 (95 % CI 0·414, 0·597). Conclusions This quantitative FFQ was valid and precise to assess the usual diet of patients with T2DM, according to its validity and reproducibility.
Prognostic Relevance of Tumor Purity and Interaction with MGMT Methylation in Glioblastoma

Promoter methylation status of O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), a DNA repair enzyme, is a critical biomarker in glioblastoma (GBM), as treatment decisions and clinical trial inclusion rely on its accurate assessment. However, interpretation of results is complicated by poor interassay reproducibility as well as a weak correlation between methylation status and expression levels of MGMT. This study systematically investigates the influence of tumor purity on tissue subjected to MGMT analysis. A quantitative, allele-specific real-time PCR (qAS-PCR) assay was developed to determine genotype and mutant allele frequency of telomerase promoter (pTERT) mutations as a direct measure of tumor purity. We studied tumor purity, pTERT mutation by Sanger sequencing, MGMT methylation by pyrosequencing, IDH1 mutation status, and clinical parameters in a cohort of high-grade gliomas (n = 97). The qAS-PCR reliably predicted pTERT genotype and tumor purity compared with independent methods. Tumor purity positively and significantly correlated with the extent of methylation in MGMT methylated GBMs. Extent of MGMT methylation differed significantly with respect to pTERT mutation hotspot (C228T vs. C250T). Interestingly, frontal lobe tumors showed greater tumor purity than those in other locations. Above all, tumor purity was identified as an independent prognostic factor in GBM. In conclusion, we determined mutual associations of tumor purity with MGMT methylation and pTERT mutations and found that the extent of MGMT methylation reflects tumor purity. In turn, tumor purity is prognostic in IDH1 wild-type GBM. Implications: Tumor purity is an independent prognostic marker in glioblastoma and is associated with the extent of MGMT methylation. Mol Cancer Res; 15(5); 532–40. ©2017 AACR.