Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An exercise physiologist's "contemporary" interpretations of the "ugly and creaking edifices" of the VO2max concept

The recent debate over the validity of traditional interpretations of the concept of VO 2 max has prompted the writing of this commentary. Rather than provide another "classic" interpretation of how VO 2 max is interpreted within exercise physiology (1), a more "contemporary" interpretation than that of Noakes (2-4) is provided by an exercise physiologist well-trained and widely published in exercise physiology and biochemistry. It is this author's contention that Noakes (2-4), as well as Bassett and Howley (1), have over-emphasized the classic research of Hill and related physiological interpretations pertaining to VO 2 max. Nevertheless, Noakes deserves to be commended for his candor in constructively criticizing how the field of exercise physiology has researched and interpreted findings on the concept of VO 2 max. Despite Noakes' criticisms of the validity of the concept of a VO 2 plateau at VO 2 max, a thorough review of research, as well as the presentation of original data in this manuscript, indicates that the VO 2 plateau is a measurable phenomenon in most subjects. Noakes' alternative theories for limitations to VO 2 during incremental exercise to volitional exhaustion are challenged based on past research evidence. The limitations to VO 2 during incremental exercise are shown to be population and environmental condition specific, and the concept of main determinants of VO 2 max for all people and conditions is shown to be an oversimplification and inaccurate. Novel interpretations of recent research are presented to provide a more systems oriented and research-based approach to understanding the determinants of the limitation to the continued increase in VO 2 during incremental exercise testing. The challenges that confront exercise physiologists are to better define their profession, increase the standards and quality of academic preparation, improve research design, and better justify certain physiological interpretations when researching VO 2 max and related topics.
Intraocular Pressure and Corneal Curvature Changes on Application of Limbal--Scleral Suction Fixation Ring in Rabbits

Suction rings are used to stabilize the globe during refractive surgery procedures. This study investigates the changes in ocular pressure and corneal curvature induced by a suction ring on rabbit corneas. A sharp rise in intraocular pressure, to as high as 80 mm Hg, followed by a time-dependent decline was found. The application of this ring also caused astigmatic changes in the cornea. Corneal thickening was also encountered. These findings have implications for possible artifactual changes during photorefractive keratoplasty and raise the possibility of intraocular pressure-induced damage in susceptible individuals.
Bedside Handover Enhances Completion of Nursing Care and Documentation

Bedside handover has been proposed as a patient-focused nursing practice model with the potential to reduce adverse events and improve standards of care. This pre-/postintervention study examined changes in completion of nursing care tasks and documentation after the implementation of bedside handover. Analysis of 754 cases revealed significant improvements in several nursing care tasks and documentation, whereas there was no variation in handover duration. Implementing bedside handover may enhance nursing care for hospitalized patients.
Segregation of Deoxyribonucleic Acid in Bacteria: Association of the Segregating Unit with the Cell Envelope

Cells of the gram-positive organism Lactobacillus acidophilus R-26 were labeled with 3H-thymine to measure the segregation of radioactive deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) into daugher cells. Such cells were found to contain 8 conserved units of DNA which would correspond to two replicating chromosomes per cell. Fluorescent antibody (FA) against this organism was used to demonstrate that portions of the cell surface (2 to 4 units per cell) were conserved during growth and division. The permanent association of DNA with these conserved cell surface units was measured by combining autoradiography with FA techniques. DNA synthesized immediately before FA labeling was not associated with the fluorescent cell surface, whereas DNA synthesized a generation previously was. The results are consistent with a model in which DNA becomes permanently fixed to the cell surface when it is first used as a template.
Mutation of specific acidic residues of the CNF1 T domain into lysine alters cell membrane translocation of the toxin

The Rho‐GTPases‐activating toxin CNF1 (cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1) delivers its catalytic activity into the cytosol of eukaryotic cells by a low pH membrane translocation mechanism reminiscent of that used by diphtheria toxin (DT). As DT, CNF1 exhibits a translocation domain (T) containing two predicted hydrophobic helices (H1–2) (aa 350–412) separated by a short peptidic loop (CNF1‐TL) (aa 373–386) with acidic residues. In the DT loop, the loss of charge of acidic amino acids, as a result of protonation at low pH, is a critical step in the transfer of the DT catalytic activity into the cytosol. To determine whether the CNF1 T domain operates similarly to the DT T domain, we mutated several ionizable amino acids of CNF1‐TL to lysine. Single substitutions such as D373K or D379K strongly decreased the cytotoxic effect of CNF1 on HEp‐2 cells, whereas the double substitution D373K/D379K induced a nearly complete loss of cytotoxic activity. These single or double substitutions did not modify the cell‐binding, enzymatic or endocytic activities of the mutant toxins. Unlike the wild‐type toxin, single‐ or double‐substituted CNF1 molecules bound to the HEp‐2 plasma membrane could not translocate their enzymatic activity directly into the cytosol following a low pH pulse.
Acquired Methemoglobinemia: A Retrospective Series of 138 Cases at 2 Teaching Hospitals

Abstract: Methemoglobin is a form of hemoglobin that does not bind oxygen. When its concentration is elevated in red blood cells, functional anemia and tissue hypoxia may occur. We performed a retrospective case series to describe the cases of acquired methemoglobinemia (methemoglobin level >2%) detected and the clinical circumstances under which they occurred at 2 tertiary care hospitals and affiliated outpatient clinics over 28 months. We surveyed co-oximetry laboratory data to identify patients with methemoglobinemia. We reviewed these patients' medical records to extract the clinical information and context. One hundred thirty-eight cases of acquired methemoglobinemia were detected over the 28 months. There was no gender predisposition, and the condition occurred over a wide range of ages (patients aged 4 days to 86 years). Cases occurred in many areas of the hospital, including outpatient clinics. One fatality and 3 near-fatalities were directly attributable to methemoglobinemia. Dapsone was the most common etiology of acquired methemoglobinemia, accounting for 42% of all cases. The mean peak methemoglobin level among these individuals was 7.6%. In 5 of the patients with the most severely elevated levels, 20% benzocaine spray (Hurricaine Topical Anesthetic spray, Beutlich Pharmaceuticals, Waukegan, IL) was the etiology, associated with a mean peak methemoglobin level of 43.8%. Eleven pediatric patients developed methemoglobinemia either from exogenous exposure, such as drugs, or due to serious illness, such as gastrointestinal infections with dehydration. Almost all (94%) patients with methemoglobinemia were anemic. Drugs that cause acquired methemoglobinemia are ubiquitous in both the hospital and the outpatient setting. Acquired methemoglobinemia is a treatable condition that causes significant morbidity and even mortality. We hope that a heightened awareness of methemoglobinemia will result in improved recognition and treatment. Primary prevention efforts have the potential to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with this condition.
Modulation of the Hepatitis C Virus RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase Activity by the Non-Structural (NS) 3 Helicase and the NS4B Membrane Protein*

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural protein 5B (NS5B) is believed to be the central catalytic enzyme responsible for HCV replication but there are many unanswered questions about how its activity is controlled. In this study we reveal that two other HCV proteins, NS3 (a protease/helicase) and NS4B (a hydrophobic protein of unknown function), physically and functionally interact with the NS5B polymerase. We describe a new procedure for generating highly pure NS4B, and use this protein in biochemical studies together with NS5B and NS3. To study the functional effects of the protein-protein interactions, we have developed an in vitro replication assay using the natural noncoding 3′ regions of the respective positive ((+)-3′-untranslated region) and negative ((−)-3′-terminal region) RNA strands of the HCV genome. Our studies show that NS3 dramatically modulates template recognition by NS5B and changes the synthetic products generated by this enzyme. The use of an NTPase-deficient mutant form of NS3 demonstrates that the NTPase activity (and thus helicase activity) of this protein is specifically required for these effects. Moreover, NS4B is found to be a negative regulator of the NS3-NS5B replication complex. Overall, these results reveal that NS3, NS4B, and NS5B can interact to form a regulatory complex that could feature in the process of HCV replication.
Central nervous system abnormalities ‐ contrasting patterns in early and late pregnancy

A total of 509 specimens of spontaneous abortion were studied. Of 364 complete specimens, 15(4.1%) had central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities. The defects which were seen were anencephaly, spina bifida, iniencephaly, encephalocele and anencephaly combined with complete rachischisis. A high proportion (five out of 15) had the more unusual defects of iniencephaly and encephalocele. All except one had ceased development at less than 12 weeks of gestation. Sex chromatin studies showed that males outnumbered females among CNS defective fetuses. When the month of conception was calculated for these abnormal pregnancies, summer and winter peaks were detected. Only one of the 15 patients had a family history of neural tube defect (NTD).
A Method to measure arbitrary k‐space trajectories for rapid MR imaging

A method to measure arbitrary k‐space trajectories was developed to compensate for nonideal gradient performance during rapid magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with actively or nonactively shielded gradients at a magnetic field strength of 4.1 T. Accurate MR image reconstruction requires knowledge of the k‐trajectory produced by the gradient waveforms during k‐space sampling. Even with shielded gradients, residual eddy currents and imperfections in gradient amplifier performance can cause the true k‐space trajectory to deviate from the ideal trajectory. The k‐space determination was used for spiral gradient‐echo imaging of the human brain. While individual calibrations are needed for new pulse sequences, the method of k‐space determination can be used for any sequence of preparation pulses and readout gradient waveforms and should prove useful for other trajectories, including the rastered lines of echo‐planar imaging.
Detecting Users’ Cognitive Load by Galvanic Skin Response with Affective Interference

Experiencing high cognitive load during complex and demanding tasks results in performance reduction, stress, and errors. However, these could be prevented by a system capable of constantly monitoring users’ cognitive load fluctuations and adjusting its interactions accordingly. Physiological data and behaviors have been found to be suitable measures of cognitive load and are now available in many consumer devices. An advantage of these measures over subjective and performance-based methods is that they are captured in real time and implicitly while the user interacts with the system, which makes them suitable for real-world applications. On the other hand, emotion interference can change physiological responses and make accurate cognitive load measurement more challenging. In this work, we have studied six galvanic skin response (GSR) features in detection of four cognitive load levels with the interference of emotions. The data was derived from two arithmetic experiments and emotions were induced by displaying pleasant and unpleasant pictures in the background. Two types of classifiers were applied to detect cognitive load levels. Results from both studies indicate that the features explored can detect four and two cognitive load levels with high accuracy even under emotional changes. More specifically, rise duration and accumulative GSR are the common best features in all situations, having the highest accuracy especially in the presence of emotions.
Additional value of two-channel amplitude integrated EEG recording in full-term infants with unilateral brain injury

Background Amplitude integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) is a valuable tool for evaluating neonatal encephalopathy and identifying electrographic seizures. Objective To compare seizure activity and background pattern (BGP) between one-channel and two-channel aEEG recordings in full-term neonates. Methods The two-channel aEEG recordings (F3-P3; F4-P4) of 34 neonates with seizures were compared with single-channel recordings (P3-P4). Results All 34 infants with unilateral (n=14), diffuse (n=18) or without (n=2) brain injury had seizure patterns on one-channel and two-channel recordings, with 18% more seizure patterns detected with two-channel recording. In 79% of infants with unilateral injury more seizures were noted on the ipsilateral side compared to the contralateral side. In 39% of the infants with diffuse brain damage more seizures were found with two-channel recordings. A sensitivity of 65% was found when using the automatic seizure detection algorithm. In 4/14 (29%) infants with unilateral injury a more severely affected BGP was seen on the ipsilateral side compared to the BGP on one-channel recording. In infants with diffuse injury differences in BGP pattern were seen in 6–17% of the infants depending on the system used for scoring. Conclusion Although there were no major differences found between seizure detection with one-channel or two-channel aEEG, in a subgroup of infants with a predominantly unilateral brain lesion, two-channel recording did provide additional information with identification of more seizure patterns on the affected side, sometimes also associated with a difference in BGP. To improve early diagnosis of unilateral lesions and improve seizure detection in these infants, routine use of two-channel recordings is recommended.
Robust Backstepping Sliding-Mode Control and Observer-Based Fault Estimation for a Quadrotor UAV

This study gives the mathematic model of a quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and then proposes a robust nonlinear controller which combines the sliding-mode control technique and the backstepping control technique. To achieve Cartesian position trajectory tracking capability, the construction of the controller can be divided into two stages: a regular SMC controller for attitude subsystem (inner loop) is first developed to guarantee fast convergence rapidity of Euler angles and the backstepping technique is applied to the position loop until desired attitudes are obtained and then the ultimate control laws. The stability of the closed-loop system is guaranteed by stabilizing each of the subsystems step by step and the robustness of the controller against model uncertainty and external disturbances is investigated. In addition, an adaptive observer-based fault estimation scheme is also considered for taking off mode. Simulations are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the designed robust nonlinear controller and the fault estimation scheme.
CEREBRAL CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM DURING ACUTE HYPOXIA AND RECOVERY 1

Abstract— The levels of ATP, ADP, AMP and phosphocreatine, of four amino acids, and of 11 intermediates of carbohydrate metabolism in mouse brain were determined after: (1) various degrees of hypoxia; (2) hypoxia combined with anaesthesia; and (3) recovery from severe hypoxia. Glycogen decreased and lactate rose markedly in hypoxia, but levels of ATP and phosphocreatine were normal or near normal even when convulsions and respiratory collapse appeared imminent.
The Effect of Farm Supply Shifts on Concentration and Market Power in the Food Processing Sector

In this paper we examine the marginal impact of changing farm supply on the market structure of the downstream food processing sector. We develop a theoretical model that allows for cost differences among processors and endogenizes downstream entry and exit. Comparative statics results are consistent with several well-established trends in the food processing sector. In particular, the analysis demonstrates that increasing concentration in the food processing sector is consistent with decreasing market power. Indeed, we find that when the farm supply curve shifts outward, an increase in concentration can only occur when there is a decrease in market power. Copyright 1997, Oxford University Press.
Analysis of gene expression profiles in cholesteatoma using oligonucleotide microarray

Abstract Conclusion. Microarray analysis may be a useful tool to identify some candidate genes related to the pathogenesis of cholesteatoma. Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate gene expression profiles in human cholesteatoma using an oligonucleotide chip including 10115 genes. Materials and methods. Gene expression from five cholesteatoma matrices and five normal retroauricular skins was analyzed by Macrogen human oligo-chip and the expression levels of some selected genes were also confirmed by RT-PCR. Results. In all, 1327 up-regulated or 767 down-regulated genes that were over 3 times more prominent in cholesteatoma than in skin were identified by 5 samples of microarray data. Among these up-regulated or down-regulated genes in cholesteatoma, 291 genes were identified in 3 samples or more out of 5 samples as up-regulated expression more than threefold in density and 191 genes were down-regulated more than threefold in density. RT-PCR of 21 selected genes revealed that those expression levels were higher in choleasteatoma than retroauricular skin.
Multiple multiple-exposure hologram.

The number of holograms that can be linearly superimposed on one photographic plate has two fundamental limits; one is the finite extent of the characteristic amplitude transmittance vs energy-of-exposure (Ta − E) film curve, and the other is holographic reciprocity law failure [ K. M. Johnson L. Hesselink J. W. Goodman , Appl. Opt.23, 218 ( 1984)], the chronological decrease in brightness of reconstructed images in a multiple-exposure hologram. In this paper a multistep hologram, called the multiple multiple-exposure hologram, is presented which increases the number of holograms that can be linearly superimposed on one photographic plate and reconstructs images of equal brightness. The brightness of the reconstructed images in the final display hologram is a function of the reference-to-object beam ratio K in the intermediate and final steps of the multiple multiple-exposure hologram. By choosing different values for K in each step of this technique, a cross section can be displayed with the same diffraction efficiency in the initial multiple-exposure holograms and the final multiple multiple-exposure hologram. The trade-off between the maximum number of holograms that can be linearly superimposed on one photographic plate and the signal-to-noise ratio in the final display hologram is also discussed.
On multidimensional Mandelbrot cascades

Let Z be a random variable with values in a proper closed convex cone , A a random endomorphism of C and N a random integer. We assume that Z, A, N are independent. Given N independent copies of we define a new random variable . Let T be the corresponding transformation on the set of probability measures on C, i.e. T maps the law of Z to the law of . If the matrix has dominant eigenvalue 1, we study existence and properties of fixed points of T having finite non-zero expectation. Existing one-dimensional results concerning T are extended to higher dimensions. In particular we give conditions under which such fixed points of T have multidimensional regular variation in the sense of extreme value theory and we determine the index of regular variation.
Group-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Older Veterans: Findings from a Quality Improvement Project

ABSTRACT Objectives: The purpose of this project was to develop, implement, and evaluate a 12-session Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Older Veterans group protocol. Methods: The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) quality improvement model was the foundational process for this project. Veterans age 55 years and older participated in an ACT for Older Veterans group in an outpatient geropsychology clinic at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Study methods included analysis of participant feedback gathered in a focus group, process measures (i.e., number of sessions attended and number of early terminations), and outcome measures (i.e., depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and psychological flexibility). Results: Seventeen participants completed an average of ten sessions. Less than 25% of participants terminated early. Depressive symptoms improved, though there were no statistically significant changes in anxiety symptoms and psychological flexibility. The focus group yielded several recommendations that were implemented in subsequent groups. Conclusions: The PDSA model helped in the development of a group therapy intervention that is both relevant and beneficial to older Veterans presenting with a variety of biopsychosocial issues. Results provide support for further research investigation of ACT for Older Veterans Group. Clinical Implications: ACT used in a group format is a feasible and acceptable psychotherapy for older Veterans.