Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A comparison of 8 weeks endurance, resistance and concurrent training on plasma visfatin in obese men

There is a lack of studies comparison exercise training type on visfatin in obese population. Therefore, our purpose was to comparison of 8 weeks endurance, resistance and concurrent training on visfatin in obese men. Forty four untrained obese student men were volunteered to participate in the current study. The subjects divided into four groups: Endurance (cycling on cycle ergometer for 40 min at 60% of HRmax), resistance (5 resistance exercises at 60% of 1RM) and concurrent (20 min endurance exercise at 60% of HRmax and 3 resistance exercises at 60% of 1RM) training and no training control group, then experimental groups participated in 8-week training program three times per week. Plasma samples were obtained pre training and within 24–48 h after the last exercise bout for analyses visfatin concentrations. Data was analyzed by using a 2-way ANOVA and LSDpost-hoc test. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. After training program, visfatin levels were significantly decreased in endurance and concurrent training groups. Furthermore, body mass and fat mass of participants was decreased in these training groups. This study suggests that 8 weeks endurance and concurrent exercise training induced a significant reduction of plasma visfatin with body loss in obese men.
Asymptotic safety in an interacting system of gravity and scalar matter

Asymptotic safety is an attractive scenario for the dynamics of quantum spacetime. Here, we work from a phenomenologically motivated point of view and emphasize that a viable dynamics for quantum gravity in our universe must account for the existence of matter. In particular, we explore the scale-dependence of a scalar matter-gravity-vertex, and investigate whether an interacting fixed point exists for the so-defined Newton coupling. We find a viable fixed point in the pure-gravity system, disregarding scalar quantum fluctuations. We explore its extensions to the case with dynamical scalars, and find indications of asymptotic safety in the matter-gravity system. We moreover examine the anomalous dimensions for different components of the metric fluctuations, and find significant differences between the transverse traceless and scalar component.
Wideband Fabry-Perot Resonator Antenna With Two Complementary FSS Layers

This paper presents a novel design of a Fabry-Perot (FP) resonator antenna with a wide gain bandwidth in X band. The bandwidth enhancement of the antenna is attributed to the positive reflection phase gradient of an electromagnetic band gap (EBG) structure, which is constructed by the combination of two complementary frequency selective surfaces (FSSs). To explain well the design procedure and approach, the EBG structure is modeled as an equivalent circuit and analyzed using the Smith Chart. Experimental results show that the antenna possesses a relative 3 dB gain bandwidth of 28%, from 8.6 GHz to 11.4 GHz, with a peak gain of 13.8 dBi. Moreover, the gain bandwidth can be well covered by the impedance bandwidth for the reflection coefficient ( S 11) below -10 dB from 8.6 GHz to 11.2 GHz.
A comparison of Brunei and Hong Kong - SAR student teachers' self-efficacy in implementing inclusive education practices: implications for teacher education

The survey compared the scores of 159 (118 females) randomly selected Brunei and Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region) student teachers on the New General Self-efficacy Scale (NGSS); Self-efficacy in Implementing Inclusive Practices Scale (SIIPS); Sentiments, Attitudes and Concerns about Inclusive Education Scale (SACIES); and Inclusive Classroom Setting Scale (ICSS). The scales were reliable and valid for use with participants in both countries. Females scored significantly higher on NGSS than male counterparts. In addition, Brunei participants scored significantly higher on NGSS and SACIES than Hong Kong peers. Furthermore, the samples’ scores differed significantly on NGSS and SACIES by participants’ educational level with A-Level trainees scoring highest. Moreover, the majority of the participants generally scored high on all the scales. However, Two-Way ANOVA revealed only one independent variable (ICSS) with a significant main effect on SIIPS, the dependent variable. Also only one lower-order interaction variable (gender and educational level) had a significant joint effect on the dependent variable, SIIPS. Overall, the results indicate a need to increase self-efficacy in males and Hong Kong students. Extra attention and interventions ought to be directed to SACIES and ICSS variables. Mixed-methods research was recommended to gain more comprehensive insights.
Seasonal in fl uenza infection and live vaccine prime for a response to the 2009 pandemic H 1 N 1 vaccine

The robust immune response to a single dose of pandemic 2009 H1N1 vaccine suggests that a large segment of the population has been previously primed. We evaluated the effect of seasonal (s) H1N1 infection, s-trivalent inactivated vaccine (s-TIV), and trivalent s-live attenuated influenza vaccine (s-LAIV) before immunization with a pandemic live attenuated influenza vaccine (p-LAIV) in mice. We compared serum andmucosal antibody and pulmonary CD8 and CD4 responses and the virologic response to challenge with a wild-type 2009 pandemic H1N1 (p-H1N1) virus. Two doses of p-LAIV induced cellular immune and robust ELISA and neutralizing antibody responses thatwere associatedwith completeprotection from p-H1N1 challenge. A single dose of p-LAIV induced a cellular response and ELISA but not a neutralizing antibody response, and incomplete protection from p-H1N1 virus challenge. Primary infection with s-H1N1 influenza virus followed by a dose of p-LAIV resulted in cross-reactive ELISA antibodies and a robust cellular immune response that was also associated with complete protection from p-H1N1 virus challenge. A lower-magnitude but similar response associated with partial protection was seen in mice that received a dose of s-LAIV followed by p-LAIV. Mice that received a dose of s-TIV followed by p-LAIV did not show any evidence of priming. In summary, prior infection with a seasonal influenza virus or s-LAIV primed mice for a robust response to a single dose of pLAIV thatwas associatedwith protection equivalent to twodoses of the matched pandemic vaccine.
miR-26 a Plays an Important Role in Cell Cycle Regulation in ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenomas by Modulating Protein Kinase C

The functional aftermath of microRNA (miRNA) dysregulation in ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas has not been demonstrated. miRNAs represent diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers as well as putative therapeutic targets; their investigation may shed light on the mechanisms that underpin pituitary adenoma development and progression. Drugs interacting with such pathways may help in achieving disease control also in the settings of ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas. We investigated the expression of 10 miRNAs among those that were found as most dysregulated in human pituitary adenoma tissues in the settings of a murine ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma cell line, AtT20/D16v-F2. The selected miRNAs to be submitted to further investigation in AtT20/ D16v-F2 cells represent an expression panel including 5 up-regulated and 5 down-regulated miRNAs. Among these, we selected the most dysregulated mouse miRNA and searched for miRNA targets and their biological function. We found that AtT20/D16v-F2 cells have a specific miRNA expression profile and that miR-26a is the most dysregulated miRNA. The latter is overexpressed in human pituitary adenomas and can control viable cell number in the in vitro model without involving caspase 3/7-mediated apoptosis. We demonstrated that protein kinase C (PRKCD) is a direct target of miR-26a and that miR26a inhibition delays the cell cycle in G1 phase. This effect involves down-regulation of cyclin E and cyclin A expression via PRKCD modulation. miR-26a and related pathways, such as PRKCD, play an important role in cell cycle control of ACTH pituitary cells, opening new therapeutic possibilities for the treatment of persistent/recurrent Cushing’s disease. (Endocrinology 154: 1690–1700, 2013)
Expression of the dietary isotope signal in the compound-specific δ13C values of pig bone lipids and amino acids

Pigs were raised on six isotopically controlled diets to examine the dietary macronutrients used in the synthesis of bulk bone biochemical components (apatite, collagen and lipids) and individual compounds (bone fatty acids, cholesterol and amino acids from collagen). δ 13 C values of apatite and bulk bone lipids reflected those of the whole diet, with � 13 Capatite-whole diet = 10.2 ± 1.3‰ and � 13 Cbone lipids-whole diet =− 2.4 ± 0.7‰. A wide variation observed in the � 13 Ccollagen-whole diet values (0.5 to 6.1‰) was hypothesized to reflect the relative importance of (i) the direct incorporation of essential amino acids, and (ii) the balance between direct incorporation and de novo synthesis of non-essential amino acids. Linear regression (n = 6) was used to assess the relationship between the δ 13 C values of whole diet and bulk bone components and individual compounds. Whole diet δ 13 C values showed a strong correlation with those of bone cholesterol (R 2 = 0.81) and non-essential fatty acids (0.97 ≤ R 2 ≤ 0.99). Not surprisingly, bone linoleic acid δ 13 C values correlated well with dietary linoleic acid (R 2 = 0.95). Mass balance calculations using the δ 13 C values of single amino acids accurately predicted the δ 13 C value of whole collagen. The δ 13 C values of whole diet were well correlated with those of the non-essential amino acids, alanine (R 2 = 0.85) and glutamate (R 2 = 0.96) in collagen. The essential amino acids leucine (� 13 Ccollagen leu-diet leu = 0.5 ± 1.2‰) and phenylalanine (� 13 Ccollagen phe-diet phe =− 0.6 ± 0.6‰) showed little isotopic
Distributed fault estimation for multi-agent systems using relative measurements — Distributed adaptive observer approach

In this paper, a distributed adaptive fault estimation strategy for multi-agent systems based on the relative output measurements is proposed. First, a novel fully distributed observer is designed in which relative state is estimated only having access related output and neighbors input signal. Then using the distributed observer, an adaptive fault estimator is proposed based on the relative output estimation error. It is provided that the relative state observer error is asymptotically stable. Moreover, similar to the existing works a transformed form of the fault estimation error is proven to be asymptotically stable which is drawn from the observable subspace of network dynamics. This transformation is related to the network topology. The results on the stability of the proposed theorems are in LMI form which is easily solvable in comparison to existing works. Finally, a numerical example is given to verify the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method using only relative output measurements.
Surviving Social Media Overload : Predicting Consumer Footprints on Product Search Engines

The overload of social media content today can lead to significant latency in the delivery of results displayed to users on product search engines. We propose a dynamic structural model whose output can facilitate digital content analytics by search engines by helping predict consumers' online search paths. Such predictive prowess can facilitate web caching of the "most likely-to-be-visited" web pages and reduce latency. Our model combines an optimal stopping framework with an individual-level random utility choice model. It allows us to jointly estimate consumers' heterogeneous preferences and search costs in the context of product search engines, and predict a probability-based search path for each consumer. We estimate the parameters of the model using a dataset of approximately 1 million online search sessions resulting in room bookings in 2117 U.S. hotels. We find that search engine ranking can polarize search costs incurred by users. A good ranking saves consumers, on average, $9.38, whereas a bad one costs $18.54. Our model prediction results demonstrate that the proposed dynamic structural model provides the best overall performance in predicting the probabilities of consumers' online search paths compared to several baseline models that do not include a formal structure or dynamics in them.
SMOS ocean salinity: Recent improvements and applications

The European Space Agency's Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission, launched in November 2009, has been providing global maps of sea surface salinity (SSS) since 2010. The SMOS SSS derived with version 5 reprocessing senses realistic SSS variability at various time and space scales, although some biases remain a basin and seasonal scale. In this paper, after providing an overview of the SMOS version 5 SSS quality derived from comparisons with in situ measurements, we provide examples of the observed variability associated with tropical instability waves during 2010 and 2013. Then we show improvements expected in future SMOS level 2 reprocessing coming from a new method for retrieving Total Electron Content (TEC). We also estimate the SMOS SSS uncertainties due to uncertainties in a priori sea surface temperature (SST) and wind speed (WS), especially in the tropical Pacific Ocean where there are significant and sometimes coupled variations of SST and WS due to strong seasonal upwelling, zonal surface currents and the development of tropical instability waves.
Annalen der Physik

Inhalt: Q 1. Problem. - fi 2. Verfahren zur Herstellung einee stdrken elektrischen Feldes in einem leuchtenden Gas. - 9 3. Weitere Methoden. - Q 4. Der Effekt bei den Waeserstofflinien Hg und Hy. - 8 5. Der Effekt im Heliumspektrum. - § 6. Abhiingigkeit des Effektes von der Feldstiirke. - 8 7. Abhbgigkeit des Effektes von der Wellen-llnge und der Serienzugehiirigkeit. - Q 8. Neue Aufgaben.
Stretch Goals and the Distribution of Performance

Many academics, consultants and managers advocate stretch goals to attain superior organizational performance. However, there is limited research exploring the effects of stretch goals on the distribution of performance. We explore the effects of goal difficulty on the mean, variance, and skewness of performance in two experimental studies. Participants were given either moderate or stretch goals for profit in a widely used management simulation with realistic dynamics. The stretch goals were achievable and well below optimal. Compared to moderate goals, stretch goals improved performance for a few, while most implemented policies that inadvertently led to bankruptcy, or, faced with that risk, abandoned the goal. Consequently, stretch goals led to higher performance variance and a right-skewed performance distribution but did not improve median performance. As a result of higher variance, stretch goals also led to lower risk adjusted performance. Furthermore, stretch goals generated large attainment discrepancies that increased perceived risk taking and undermined goal commitment. These two mechanisms help explain how stretch goals lead to high variance and a right skewed performance distribution. In complex environments, finding and following strategies to realize stretch goals is difficult and risky, and, instead, some managers adopt lower self-set goals or focus on survival. Depending on the risk preferences of managers, stretch goals might therefore be suboptimal even though a few organizations benefit. These findings extend theory on organizational goals and suggest caveats for the adoption of stretch goals.
Haemodynamic and renal evolution of the bile duct-ligated rat.

In the present study we have characterized the evolution of changes in systemic haemodynamics (thermodilution in conscious animals) and sodium balance (metabolic cages) in a model of liver cirrhosis induced by chronic bile duct ligation (BDL). Mean arterial pressure (BDL, 111.5+/-4.7 mmHg; sham-operated, 122.9+/-3.0 mmHg) and peripheral vascular resistance (BDL, 2.63+/-0.08 units; sham-operated, 2.93+/-0.09 units) were lower in BDL rats from day 12 after surgery and decreased progressively throughout the following days. Portal hypertension was evident earlier in BDL rats and was maintained throughout the study period. Cardiac index (BDL, 58.8+/-3. 9 ml.min(-1). 100 g(-1); sham-operated, 43.9+/-1.5 ml.min(-1). 100 g(-1)) and stroke volume (BDL, 147.2+/-12.7 ml.beat(-1). 100 g(-1); sham-operated, 109.0+/-4.2 ml.beat(-1). 100 g(-1)) were significantly elevated in the BDL rats only from day 18 after surgery. There were no significant differences in sodium balance between the groups until day 16 after surgery, at which time BDL animals started to retain significantly more sodium than the controls. Sodium retention increased progressively, and at day 20 BDL rats had retained 0.7 mmol/100 g more than the control animals (accumulated retention: BDL, 2.2+/-0.2 mmol/100 g; sham-operated, 1.5+/-0.2 mmol/100 g). Plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentration were not elevated in the BDL animals at days 12, 16 or 20 after surgery. These data indicate that the BDL rat model shows early portal hypertension, peripheral vasodilation and arterial hypotension, several days before sodium retention is detectable, and in the absence of changes in plasma levels of renin and aldosterone. Overall, these data suggest that, in the BDL rat model, sodium retention is secondary to portal hypertension and peripheral vasodilation.
Analysis of Viral Membranes Formed in Cells Infected by a 1 Vaccinia Virus L 2-Deletion Mutant Suggest their Origin from 2 the Endoplasmic Reticulum 3 4

1 Vaccinia Virus L2-Deletion Mutant Suggest their Origin from 2 the Endoplasmic Reticulum 3 4 Liliana Maruri-Avidal, Andrea S. Weisberg, Himani Bisht and Bernard Moss* 5 Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 6 Bethesda, Maryland 20892-3210 7 8 9 Running title: Vaccinia virus membrane formation 10 11 * Corresponding author. Mailing address: National Institutes of Health, 33 North Drive, 12 Bethesda, MD 20892-3210. Phone: (301) 496-9869. Fax: (301) 480-1147. E-mail: 13 bmoss@nih.gov. 14 15 16 Copyright © 2012, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. J. Virol. doi:10.1128/JVI.02779-12 JVI Accepts, published online ahead of print on 28 November 2012
Posterolateral discectomy and interbody fusion in the treatment of thoracic disc herniation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical safety and efficacy of the Posterolateral Interlaminar Approach (PIA) for treating Thoracic Disc Herniation (TDH). A total of 24 TDH cases were treated via PIA between January 2006 and August 2014. Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scoring, Otani grading, and the Bridwell criteria were used to evaluate treatment efficacy. Twenty-four patients were followed up for between 6 months and 3.5 y, and were reviewed in the clinic at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. The preoperative JOA score was 4.4 ± 2.4 points, while postoperatively that at 3 months was 8.7 ± 2.3 points, and at the last follow-up was 9.0 ± 2.3 points. The comparisons over time were statistically significant (P<0.05). According to Otani grading, the treatment results of 9 cases were excellent, 11 cases were good, 2 cases were acceptable, and 2 cases were poor, with the excellent and good rate at 83.3%. All bone grafts achieved phase I healing within 9 months after surgery, and there were no occurrences of loosening of internal fixation, fracture, or segmental collapse during follow-up. PIA could obtain satisfactory clinical results in treating TDH.
Printed high-directivity metamaterial MS/NRI coupled-line coupler for signal monitoring applications

Using the general coupled-mode formulation, it is shown that the interaction between a regular transmission line and a negative-refractive-index (NRI) line leads to complex coupled modes. Specifically the coupling between a regular microstrip (MS) and a NRI line is analyzed and the theory reveals conditions giving rise to high directivity. Experimental results are presented for a fully printed MS/NRI coupled-line coupler exhibiting a coupling level of -27dB, isolation of -72dB, and directivity of 45dB at the design frequency of 2.04GHz. Such low-coupling levels but high-directivity couplers are well suited for signal monitoring and instrumentation applications.
Finite-dimensional filters with nonlinear drift. V: solution to Kolmogorov equation arising from linear filtering with non-Gaussian initial condition

Despite its usefulness, the Kalman-Bucy filter is not perfect. One of its weaknesses is that it needs a Gaussian assumption on the initial data. Recently Yau and Yau introduced a new direct method to solve the estimation problem for linear filtering with non-Gaussian initial data. They factored the problem into two parts: (1) the on-line solution of a finite system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs), and (2) the off-line calculation of the Kolmogorov equation. Here we derive an explicit closed-form solution of the Kolmogorov equation. We also give some properties and conduct a numerical study of the solution.
SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHOD FOR QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF NYSTATIN ANTIFUNGAL AGENT IN PHARMACEUTICAL FORMULATIONS

The low solubility of Nystatin causes biopharmaceutical problems decreasing the bioavailability or biological availability, compromising the bioanalytical analysis. The aim of this study is to achieve a quantitative analysis method with appropriate sensitivity and suitable robustness for this drug substance. The controlled photochemical transformation of Nystatin solution was conducted with a LUP 6W lamp. The maximum slope (in absolute value) of the curve associated with 322 nm radiation is recorded at the beginning of the irradiation; based on this, it can be established the optimal irradiation time (30 minutes) when analysis were carryied out. The average value of the determinations is not far from the expected value. The method for quantification of Nystatin in pharmaceutical formulations, based on the photosensitivity and selective photo-transformation of the active substance, has proved to be reliable for the analytical control of these types of pharmaceutical formulations.
Tracking painted pebbles: Short‐term rates of sediment movement on four Mojave Desert piedmont surfaces

To quantify short‐term sediment movement rates across Mojave Desert piedmonts, 1600 painted and numbered pebbles were laid out in paired, orthogonal, 20 m lines at 4 sites and resurveyed five times over 2 years and revisited 2 years later. Pebble lines cross shallow (5–15 cm), ephemeral channels and adjacent unconsolidated interfluves, the latter being the dominant landform at all sites. Two sites are located on surfaces that have been or are impacted by military training activities, including the use of tracked vehicles. The two other sites have not been disturbed by human impact. Three different processes transport pebbles. Episodic streamflow in ephemeral channels transports a few pebbles long distances (decimeters to meters) down gradient. Bioturbation moves many pebbles small distances (centimeters) in any direction, and vehicular disturbance transports pebbles varying distances (centimeters to meters) in any direction. Significant down‐gradient sediment movement occurred dominantly in channels where flowing water was concentrated. Interfluves were stable surfaces where little transport occurred. Off‐road vehicle use is coincident with accelerated pebble movement. Pebbles moved further and faster down gradient at the disturbed Iron Mountain and East Range Road sites (mean speeds of 0.18 and 0.34 m yr−1, respectively) than at the undisturbed Chemehuevi and Goldstone sites, (mean speeds of 0.17 and 0.02 m yr−1, respectively). Mean pebble movement is highly and negatively correlated with vegetation density. Short‐term pebble movement rates are several times lower than long‐term (103 to 104 year) rates, suggesting the importance of rare, extreme precipitation events for sediment transport such as those of fall and winter 2004.