Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Self-paced resistance training and walking exercise in community-dwelling older adults: effects on neuromotor performance.

BACKGROUND Resistance-training intervention studies have demonstrated meaningful health benefits in older adults; however, most have used exercises performed at specific intensities on expensive equipment, which limit their widespread applicability. We tested whether two self-paced, less expensive exercise protocols could be effective and safe for modifying neuromotor performance and functional capacity in community-dwelling adults 65-95 years of age. METHODS One hundred and thirty-one subjects were randomized to a novel resistance training, walking, or control group. Subjects determined their level of resistance or walking intensity (self-paced) on a session-by-session basis. Muscle strength, balance, reaction time, stair climbing speed, and a timed pen pickup task were measured before and after the intervention period. Exercisers met three times per week for 10 months. RESULTS Significant improvements in tandem stance and single-legged stance with eyes open times and stair climbing speed were seen in both exercise groups. In addition, resistance trainers improved their muscle strength and ability to pick up an object from the floor and reduced the number of missteps taken during tandem walking, and walkers reduced tandem walking time. Controls showed no significant improvement in any variable. CONCLUSIONS The two self-paced exercise protocols were effective at improving neuromotor performance and functional capacity in the study sample and show promise as a safe, effective, cost-efficient, acceptable exercise model for primary and secondary prevention in the general population of community-dwelling older adults.
Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha May Act as an Intraovarian Mediator of Luteinizing Hormone-Induced Oocyte Maturation in Trout1

ABSTRACT Infish, like in other vertebrates, luteinizing hormone (Lh) is an essential hormone for the completion of oocyte maturation. In salmonid fish (i.e., salmon and trout), oocyte maturation is induced by Lh through its stimulation of the production of the maturation-inducing steroid, 17alpha,20beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20beta-P). In mammals, several factors, including ovarian cytokines and growth factors, have been reported to contribute to the regulation of oocyte maturation. In fish, growing evidence suggests that tumor necrosis factor alpha (hereafter referred to as Tnf) could play multiple physiological roles in the control of ovarian function. In the present study, we have investigated the possible involvement of Tnf in the regulation of oocyte maturation in brown trout (Salmo trutta). Our results show that in vitro treatment of brown trout preovulatory follicles with coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Lh (sLh) significantly increased oocyte maturation, as assessed by germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), and that this effect was blocked by TAPI-1 (an inhibitor of Tnf-converting enzyme or Tace/Adam17). Furthermore, treatment of preovulatory follicles with sLh increased the expression of tnf and tace/adam17 as well as the secretion of the Tnf protein. Importantly, recombinant trout Tnf (rtTnf) significantly increased GVBD in vitro. Our results also show that the stimulatory effects of rtTnf on oocyte maturation may be the result of the direct involvement of rtTnf in stimulating the production of the maturation-inducing steroid as evidenced, first, by the stimulatory effects of rtTnf on 17,20beta-P production in vitro and on the expression of cholesterol side-chain cleavage P450 cytochrome (p450scc) and 20beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/carbonyl reductase 1 (cbr1), the enzyme responsible for the production of 17,20beta-P, and, second, by the ability of TAPI-1 to block the stimulatory effects of sLh on 17,20beta-P production and cbr1 expression. Furthermore, sLh and rtTnf increased the expression of the Lh receptor (lhr) and decreased the expression of aromatase (cyp19a1), and TAPI-1 completely blocked the effects of sLh. These results strongly suggest that Tnf may contribute to the regulation of oocyte maturation by Lh in trout.
Outcomes of conservative surgery in early epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE To investigate clinical outcomes and fertility status of conservative treatment for epithelial ovarian carcinoma. METHODS The data of clinicopathological characteristics and follow-up were retrospectively collected and analyzed in 17 patients with early epithelial ovarian carcinoma who underwent conservative surgery. RESULTS The tumor histologic types of 17 patients included 13 mucinous, one serous, one endometrioid, and two mixed mucinous and serous carcinomas. The FIGO stages were: ten Stage IA, six IC, and one IIIA disease. Tumor grades involved 15 grade 1 and two grade 2. Sixteen patients received adjuvant platinum-based combined chemotherapy. The medium duration of follow-up was 61 months (range 17-115 months). Only one patient recurred at 36 months after primary surgery. All of the 17 patients were alive at end of follow-up. Eight patients attempted pregnancy and five patients conceived naturally; there were six term pregnancies and one abortion. CONCLUSION Conservative surgery can be considered for young patients with FIGO Stage I including grade 1 and grade 2 epithelial ovarian cancers who desire further childbearing.
On the Occurrence of Hypomyelination in a Transgenic Mouse Model: A Consequence of the Myelin Basic Protein Promoter?

Abstract Central nervous system hypomyelination is a feature common to anumber of transgenic (Tg) mouse lines that express a variety of unrelated exogenous (i.e. non–central nervous system) transgenes. Inthis report, we document hypomyelination structurally by immunocytochemistry and functionally in the Tg line MBP-JE, which overexpresses the chemokine CCL2 (MCP-1) within oligodendrocytestargeted by a myelin basic protein (MBP) promoter. Analysis ofhypomyelinated optic nerves of Tg mice revealed progressive decrease in oligodendrocyte numbers with age (p < 0.01). Although molecular mechanisms underlying hypomyelination in this and other Tg models remain largely unknown, we present preliminary findings on oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) cultures in which, although OPC expressed CCR2, the receptor for CCL2, treatment with CCL2 had no significant effect on OPC proliferation, differentiation, or apoptosis. We suggest that hypomyelination in the MBP-JE model might not be due to CCL2 expression but rather the result of transcriptional dysfunction related to random insertion of the MBP promoter that disrupts myelinogenesis and leads to oligodendrocyte demise. Because an MBP promoter is a common denominator in most Tg lines displaying hypomyelination, we hypothesize that use of myelin gene sequences in the regulator region of Tg constructs might underlie thisperturbation of myelination in such models.
An investigation of i-AlGaAs/n-GaAs doped-channel MIS-like FET's (DMT's)&#8212;Properties and performance potentialities

Doped-channel MIS-like FET's (DMT's) based upon an i-AlGaAs/n-GaAs structure have been investigated in detail for the purpose of clarifying their properties and performance potentialities. The DMT is unique in having two operation modes, a depletion-layer modulation mode and an electron accumulation mode, both of which are experimentally demonstrated through capacitance-voltage characteristics. Analytical and experimental results shows that the maximum drain current IDSmaxis more than 2.5 times that for a conventional n-AlGaAs/GaAs 2DEGFET. gmmaxand IDsmaxvalues obtained for 0.5- µm gate DMT's are very high, 310 mS/mm (410 mS/mm) and 650 mA/mm (800 mA,/mm) at 300 K (77 K), respectively, fmaxis 48 GHz. fTis as large as 45 GHz, which is the best data ever reported in 0.5-µm gate FET's. Moreover, the estimated electron saturation velocity is outstandingly large, 1.5 × 107cm/s (2 × 107cm/s) at 300 K (77 K), even for a thin GaAs channel layer with a 3 × 1018cm-3doping level, while Hall electron mobility is not reasonably so high, being typically 1850 cm2/V . s (1650 cm2/V . S). Preliminary power performances are also studied at 28.5 GHz. An 18-dBm (225-mW/mm) saturation output power, 6.4-dB linear gain, and 15-percent power added efficiency are achieved. A further performance improvement may be easily accomplished by gate length reduction, structure optimization, and so on. Consequently, it has been proved that DMT's have great feasibility for high-speed and high-frequency high-power device applications.
Latent inhibition of cued fear conditioning: an NMDA receptor‐dependent process that can be established in the presence of anisomycin

Much of the research examining the biological basis for long‐term memories has focused on mechanisms that support the formation of conditioned associations. Less information is available on biological mechanisms which underlie processes that modify the strength of conditioned associations. Latent inhibition is a phenomenon by which pre‐exposure to a to‐be‐conditioned stimulus (CS) weakens subsequent conditioning of that CS to an unconditioned stimulus (US). Here we report that latent inhibition of cued fear conditioning is dependent on NMDA receptor activation. MK‐801 (1 mg/kg), an NMDA receptor antagonist, abolished latent inhibition of cued fear conditioning. This dose of MK‐801 administered before training did not disrupt cued fear conditioning. Conversely, anisomycin (150 mg/kg), a protein synthesis inhibitor, had no effect on latent inhibition of cued fear conditioning when administered 20 min before, immediately after, or 2, 4, 6, or 8 h after CS pre‐exposure. Furthermore, continuous anisomycin administration (50 mg/kg, administered every 2 h for 6 h starting 20 min prior to pre‐exposure) did not disrupt latent inhibition of cued fear conditioning. In addition, anisomycin had no effect on a long‐lasting version of latent inhibition of cued fear conditioning that was maintained over a 7‐day interval. Anisomycin administered before training, however, disrupted learning of the CS–US association. These findings suggest that latent inhibition of cued fear conditioning is a long‐lasting NMDA receptor‐dependent process that can develop during the inhibition of protein synthesis.
Clinicopathological features of colorectal polyps: evaluation of the ‘predict, resect and discard’ strategies

‘Predict, resect and discard’ strategies for diminutive and small colonic polyps are considered to be cost effective for treating colorectal cancers. The aim of this study was to determine, retrospectively, the histological features of colonic polyps resected by endoscopic procedures or surgery using an updated database.
Strategic Change Management Practices Adopted by Machakos County Government for Service Delivery

ix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Background of the Study . 1 1.1.1 Concept of Strategic Change Management. 2 1.1.2 Strategic Change Management Practices . 4 1.1.3 Service Delivery. 6 1.1.4 Machakos County Government . 7 1.2 Research Problem . 9 1.3 Research Objectives . 11 1.4 Value of the Study . 11 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW . 13 2.
Estimation of hydro turbine-governor system's transfer function from PMU measurements

Generation in the Nordic power system is dominated by large number of hydro power plants, especially in Norway and Sweden. There are indications that, during the last decade, the frequency quality in the system has deteriorated; the number of minutes when the frequency stays outside the permissible range has been increasing. There is ongoing work to find the root of the problem and solutions to improve the quality of frequency. Among other measures, it is important to know the actual dynamic characteristics of the turbine-governor response of power plants. Regarding this issue, the paper presents the work on using state-of-the-art system identification methods to estimate the transfer function of the turbine-governor systems with ambient data. With only PMU measurements at the high voltage side of generator transformers, the identification methods work properly and provide satisfactory estimation.
Longitudinal changes in bone lead concentration: implications for modelling of human bone lead metabolism.

In this study, 539 occupationally exposed subjects received in vivo bone lead measurements using 109Cd excited K X-ray fluorescence (109Cd K XRF). Of these subjects, 327 had previously been measured five years earlier. Measurements were made from both tibia and calcaneus samples, taken to reflect cortical and trabecular bone, respectively. Changes in tibia lead concentration related negatively to initial tibia lead concentration and positively to both lead exposure between the measurement dates and initial calcaneus lead concentration. This finding confirmed and strengthened the interpretation of an earlier study involving fewer subjects. With the larger data set it was possible to examine subgroups of subjects. This showed that people aged less than 40 years had a shorter half-life for the release of lead from the tibia (4.9, 95% CI 3.6-7.8 years) than did those older than 40 (13.8, 95% CI 9.7-23.8 years). Similarly, less intensely exposed subjects (lifetime average blood lead < or = 25 micrograms dL-1) had a shorter tibia lead half-life (6.2, 95% CI 4.7-9.0 years) than those with a lifetime average blood lead > 25 micrograms dL-1 (14.7, 95% CI 9.7-29.9 years). Age and measures of lead exposure were strongly correlated; nevertheless, age matched subgroups with high and low intensity exposures showed clearance rates that were significantly different at the 10% level, with the lower exposure intensity again being associated with the faster clearance. These findings imply that current models of human lead metabolism should be examined with a view to adjusting them to account for kinetic rates varying with age and probably also with exposure level.
Narrow‐band UVB311 nm vs. broad‐band UVB therapy in combination with topical calcipotriol vs. placebo in vitiligo

Background Recently, it has been shown that UVB phototherapy may be more effective than UVA in the treatment of vitiligo. Currently, however, no studies have compared the efficacy of UVB311 nm and broad‐band UVB therapy. Calcipotriol has recently been reported to be effective adjunctive treatment for vitiligo, enhancing the efficacy of 8‐methoxypsoralen plus UVA (PUVA) therapy.
Safety, Resource Use, and Quality of Life in Paramount: A Phase III Study of Maintenance Pemetrexed Versus Placebo after Induction Pemetrexed Plus Cisplatin for Advanced Nonsquamous Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Introduction: In a phase III, randomized, double-blind study (PARAMOUNT), maintenance pemetrexed demonstrated significant benefit in advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We present safety, resource use, and quality of life (QoL) results. Methods: After four 21-day cycles of pemetrexed-cisplatin (N = 939), patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC, whose disease had not progressed and who had a performance status of 0/1, were randomized 2:1 (N = 539) to maintenance pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 plus best supportive care or placebo plus best supportive care every 21 days until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. QoL was measured using the EuroQol 5-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D). Results: Frequently reported grade 3 to 4 drug-related toxicities with maintenance pemetrexed versus placebo were anemia (4.5% versus 0.6%; p = 0.016), fatigue (4.2% versus 0.6%; p = 0.016), and neutropenia (3.6% versus 0.0%; p < 0.006). No significant differences in drug-related grade 3 to 5 toxicities were observed with long-term pemetrexed exposure (>6 cycles), except grade 3 to 4 neutropenia, which did not result in increased infections. Patients on maintenance pemetrexed required more transfusions (13.4% versus 5.0%; p = 0.003), granulocyte colony- or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factors (5.3% versus 0.0%; p <0.001), anti-infectives (25.3% versus 16.7%; p = 0.028), and hospitalizations because of study drug (8.4% versus 3.3%, p = 0.028) than placebo-treated patients did. No significant treatment-by-time interactions, overall treatment differences, or clinically relevant changes from baseline were observed in EQ-5D scores during treatment. Conclusions: Long-term use of continuation maintenance pemetrexed was well tolerated; resource use was low, corresponding with known pemetrexed toxicities. The EQ-5D results demonstrate that patients tolerate long-term maintenance pemetrexed without worsening QoL.
A Managerial Perspective

Most clinical laboratories in the nation report severe difficulties in recruitment and retention of most types of personnel. Other important factors impacting this problem include work complexities, increased automation, and a graying workforce. As a further challenge, institutional needs for clinical laboratory personnel are expected to grow significantly in the next decade. This article examines the current situation of the clinical laboratory workforce. It analyzes the different types of personnel; the managerial, supervision, and line positions that are key for different types of laboratories; the job outlook and recent projections for different types of staff; and the current issues, trends, and challenges of the laboratory workforce. Laboratory managers need to take action with strategies suggested for overcoming these challenges. Most importantly, they need to become transformational leaders by developing effective staffing models, fostering healthy and productive work environments, and creating value with a strategic management culture and implementation of knowledge management.
Treatment-related Fluctuations in Guillain Barre Syndrome and the Conundrum of Additional Cycles of Plasmapheresis

Introduction: In Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS), worsening of weakness or disability after initial period of recovery or stabilization is described as treatment-related fluctuations (TRF). Aim: This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics and outcome of six patients with GBS and TRF. Patients and Methods: Six patients with GBS fulfilling NINCDS criteria, evaluated at a tertiary care university hospital during 2008–2017, were diagnosed to have TRF. They form the basis of this report. Results: All patients were men and their mean age was 40 years. At presentation, mean duration of illness was 15 days; the illness had plateaued in three and progressive in other three patients. Two of the four patients had variant GBS. Initially, five patients were treated with large volume plasmapheresis (LVPP) and one patient with methyl prednisolone. At 17–28 days after disease onset, three patients developed new neurologic deficits (bilateral facial paresis in two; paralytic ileus in one). Other three patients with worsening of limb weakness (medical research council sum score of >5) and disability (Hughes disability grade by ≥1) fulfilled Kleyweg's criteria for TRF. All the six patients were treated with the completion of five cycles or additional cycles of LVPP. Conclusion: Awareness about TRF is essential for correct diagnosis and management of patients with GBS.
Data Collection in the Digital Age: Innovative Alterantives to Student Samples

Online crowdsourcing markets (OCM) are becoming more popular as a source for data collection. In this paper, we examine the consistency of survey results across student samples, consumer panels, and online crowdsourcing markets (specifically Amazon's Mechanical Turk) both within the United States and outside. We conduct two studies examining the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the expectation-disconfirmation theory (EDT) to explore potential differences in demographics, psychometrics, structural model estimates, and measurement invariances. Our findings indicate that (1) U.S.-based OCM samples provide demographics much more similar to our student and consumer panel samples than the non-U.S.-based OCM samples; (2) both U.S. and non-U.S. OCM samples provide initial psychometric properties (reliability, convergent, and divergent validity) that are similar to those of both student and consumer panels; (3) non-U.S. OCM samples generally provide differences in scale means compared to those of our students, consumer panels, and U.S. OCM samples; and (4) one of the non-U.S. OCM samples refuted the highly replicated and validated TAM model in the relationship of perceived usefulness to behavioral intentions. Although our post hoc analyses isolated some cultural and demographic effects with regard to the non-U.S. samples in Study 1, they did not address the model differences found in Study 2. Specifically, the inclusion of non-U.S. OCM respondents led to statistically significant differences in parameter estimates, and hence to different statistical conclusions. Due to these unexplained differences that exist within the non-U.S. OCM samples, we caution that the inclusion of non-U.S. OCM participants may lead to different conclusions than studies with only U.S. OCM participants. We are unable to conclude whether this is due to of cultural differences, differences in the demographic profiles of non-U.S. OCM participants, or some unexplored factors within the models. Therefore, until further research is conducted to explore these differences in detail, we urge researchers utilizing OCMs with the intention to generalize to U.S. populations focus on U.S.-based participants and exercise caution in using non-U.S. participants. We further recommend that researchers should clearly describe their OCM usage and design (e.g., demographics, participant filters, etc.) procedures. Overall, we find that U.S. OCM samples produced models that lead to similar statistical conclusions as both U.S. students and U.S. consumer panels at a considerably reduced cost.
Effects of adding a weekly eccentric-overload training session on strength and athletic performance in team-handball players

Abstract To investigate the influence of adding a weekly eccentric-overload training (EOT) session in several athletic performance’s tests, 18 team-handball players were assigned either to an EOT (n = 11) or a Control (n = 7) group. Both groups continued to perform the same habitual strength training, but the EOT group added one session/week during a 7-week training programme consisting of four sets of eight repetitions for the bilateral half-squat and unilateral lunge exercises. The test battery included handball throwing velocity, maximum dynamic strength (1RM), countermovement jump (CMJ), 20 m sprint, triple hop for distance, and eccentric/concentric power in both the half-squat and lunge exercises. Data were analysed using magnitude-based inferences. Both groups improved their 1RM in the half squat, 20 m sprint time, and CMJ performance to a similar extent, but the EOT group showed a beneficial effect for both right [(42/58/0), possibly positive] and left [(99/1/0), very likely positive] triple hop for distance performance. In addition, the EOT group showed greater power output improvements in both eccentric and concentric phases of the half-squat (difference in percent of change ranging from 6.5% to 22.0%) and lunge exercises (difference in per cent of change ranging from 13.1% to 24.9%). Nevertheless, no group showed changes in handball throwing velocity. Selected variables related to team-handball performance (i.e. functional jumping performance, power output) can be improved by adding a single EOT session per week, highlighting the usefulness of this low-volume/high-intensity training when aiming at optimizing dynamic athletic performance.