Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the biomechanics of cycling. A study of joint and muscle load during exercise on the bicycle ergometer.

The aim of the study was to quantify the load induced in the lower limb joints and muscles during exercise on a bicycle ergometer and to study how these loads changed with adjustments of the bicycle ergometer or cycling technique. The forces, load moments and muscular power output acting on and about the hip, knee and ankle joints during cycling were determined using cine-film, pedal force measurements and biomechanical calculations based upon static and dynamic mechanics. The muscular activity of eleven lower limb muscles was recorded and quantified using EMG. The load moments acting about the bilateral hip, knee and ankle joint axes were found to be generally lower than those induced during normal level walking. The varus and valgus load moments acting about the antero-posterior knee joint axis were approximately the same as those induced during walking. The tibio-femoral compressive joint force and the anteriorly directed tibio-femoral shear force mainly stressing the anterior cruciate ligament were low. The talocrural joint compressive force and achilles tendon tensile force were low compared to those in level walking. The magnitude of lower limb muscular activity during cycling approximated that obtained during walking, with three major exceptions. M. vastus medialis et lateralis were more activated during cycling than during walking, and tibialis anterior was less activated. The hip extensor muscles produced 27%, hip flexors 4%, knee extensors 39%, knee flexors 10% and ankle plantar flexors 20% of the total positive mechanical work. Of the four parameters studied (workload, pedalling rate, saddle height, pedal foot position) workload was the most important adjustment factor for change of joint load and muscular activity. An increased pedalling rate increased the muscular activity in most of the muscles investigated, generally without changing the joint load. Increased saddle height decreased the maximum flexing knee load moment, but did not significantly change the flexing hip or dorsiflexing ankle load moment. Muscular activity in most of the muscles investigated was not generally changed by different saddle heights. Use of a posterior foot position instead of an anterior decreased the dorsiflexing ankle load moment, increased the gluteus medius and rectus femoris activity, and decreased soleus muscular activity but did not significantly change the hip or knee moments. It is suggested that cycling might be a useful exercise in the rehabilitation of patients with injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament of the knee or achilles tendon. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Pathology of US Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Strain PC21A in Gnotobiotic Pigs

To understand the progression of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus infection, we inoculated gnotobiotic pigs with a newly emerged US strain, PC21A, of the virus. At 24–48 hours postinoculation, the pigs exhibited severe diarrhea and vomiting, fecal shedding, viremia, and severe atrophic enteritis. These findings confirm that strain PC21A is highly enteropathogenic.
Gender differences in sleep disorders

Purpose of review To evaluate recent evidence regarding gender differences in sleep. Recent findings Women have better sleep quality compared with men, with longer sleep times, shorter sleep-onset latency and higher sleep efficiency. Despite this, women have more sleep-related complaints than men. The amount of slow-wave sleep decreases with age in men and women. Normal physiologic periods, including puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, are associated with alterations in sleep patterns. Gender differences in normal sleep may underlie the observed differences in risk of sleep disorders. Studies of insomnia support a female predominance, with increased divergence of prevalence between men and women with older age. Recent findings for the gender differences in obstructive sleep apnea have focused on differences in local neuromuscular reflexes and central ventilatory control. Restless legs syndrome has a slight female predominance, whereas rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder and Kleine–Levin syndrome are more common in men. Summary Gender differences in sleep become apparent after the onset of puberty. Menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause can alter sleep architecture. Gender-related differences in sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, and restless legs syndrome, include differences in prevalence, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and response to therapy.
CAPTURE OF FREE-RANGING MULE DEER (ODOCOILEUS HEMIONUS) WITH A COMBINATION OF MEDETOMIDINE, AZAPERONE, AND ALFAXALONE

Abstract The combination of medetomidine, azaperone, and alfaxalone has been successfully used to anesthetize captive white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). This same combination was utilized to immobilize free-ranging female mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus; MD) in urban and nonurban environments (14 urban MD, 14 nonurban MD) in British Columbia, Canada. Physiologic data were collected to assess the safety and reliability of this drug combination under field conditions. Each deer received estimated dosages of 0.15 mg/kg medetomidine, 0.2 mg/kg azaperone, and 0.5 mg/kg alfaxalone intramuscularly via a remote darting system. Inductions were calm and rapid (mean time to sternal recumbency: urban MD, 6.4±2.2 min; nonurban MD, 8.2±4.1 min). Supplemental drugs were required to induce lateral recumbency in five deer, four of which had experienced initial dart failure (mean time to lateral recumbency: urban MD, 8.5±3.8 min; nonurban MD, 18.7±16.5 min). Recoveries were smooth and uneventful (time to standing: urban MD, 12.5±3.4 min; nonurban MD, 9.0±3.5 min) for all but one debilitated nonurban MD that died shortly after atipamezole administration (at five times the medetomidine dose). The major side effects of the combination were hypoxemia and hypercapnia. The combination of medetomidine, azaperone, and alfaxalone proved suitable for the immobilization of urban and nonurban free-ranging MD.
Sorting Nexin 33 Induces Mammalian Cell Micronucleated Phenotype and Actin Polymerization by Interacting with Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein*

Sorting nexin 33 (SNX33) is a novel member of the sorting nexin superfamily with three predicted structural domains, SH3-PX-BAR. Very little is known about the cellular function of SNX33. In an effort to analyze its structure/function relationship, we attempted but failed to generate stable cell lines for short hairpin RNA or overexpression SNX33. Transient knockdown of SNX33 induces both HeLa and MCF7 cells to grow multiple long processes, delay the G1/M transition, and become more apoptotic, implying that SNX33 may control cell cycle process through influence the cytoskeleton. In vitro cell lineage analysis revealed that cells transfected with SNX33 failed to divide and became micronucleated, suggesting a specific defect in cytokinesis. Further analysis revealed that SNX33 induced the accumulation of actin at the perinuclear space, which might have disabled the cytokinetic machinery. However, SNX33 appears to mediate actin polymerization indirectly, as they do not interact with each other. SNX33 interacts with itself and SNX9. Interestingly, it also interacts with VCA domain of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp), a protein known to be involved in actin polymerization. Indeed, cells overexpressing WASp failed to divide and form stable colonies as SNX33, consistent with the notion that SNX33 may interfere with cytokinesis. On the other hand, knockdown of WASp alleviates the phenotype induced by SNX33. Taken together, our results suggest that SNX33 plays a role in maintaining cell shape and cell cycle progression through its interaction with WASp.
The Star Formation History of the Large Magellanic Cloud

Using WFPC2 on board the Hubble Space Telescope, we have created deep color-magnitude diagrams in the V and I passbands for approximately 105 stars in a field at the center of the LMC bar and another in the disk. The main-sequence luminosity functions (LFs) from 19 ≤ V ≤ 23.5, the red clump and horizontal branch morphologies, and the differential Hess diagram of the two fields all strongly imply that the disk and bar have significantly different star formation histories (SFHs). The disk's SFH has been relatively smooth and continuous over the last ~15 Gyr, while the bar's SFH was dominated by star formation episodes at intermediate ages. Comparison of the LF against predictions based on Padova theoretical stellar evolution models and an assumed age-metallicity relationship allows us to identify the dominant stellar populations in the bar with episodes of star formation that occurred from 4 to 6 and 1 to 2 Gyr ago. These events accounted for ~25% and ~15%, respectively, of its stellar mass. The disk field may share a mild enhancement in SF for the younger episode, and thus we identify the 4 to 6 Gyr episode with the formation of the LMC bar.
Arthroscopic Treatment of Osteochondral Lesions of the Distal Tibia

Background: Osteochondral lesions of the tibia are much less frequent than those of the talus, and treatment guidelines have not been established. We hypothesized that arthroscopic treatment methods used for osteochondral lesion of the talus would also be effective for those of the distal tibia. Methods: A review of 880 consecutive ankle arthroscopies identified 23 patients (2.6%) with osteochondral lesions of the distal tibia. Four patients were excluded because of concomitant acute ankle fractures requiring open reduction and internal fixation and two were lost to followup, leaving 17 in the study. The mean age was 38 (19 to 71) years. Six (35%) had osteochondral lesions of the tibia and talus; 11 had isolated lesions of the distal tibia. Treatment included excision, curettage, and abrasion arthroplasty in all patients. Five patients had transmalleolar drilling of the lesion, two had microfracture, and two had iliac bone grafting. At last followup, patients were evaluated with a questionnaire, physical examination, and ankle radiographs. Results: Mean followup was 44 (24 to 99) months. Preoperatively, the median American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot score was 52; postoperatively, it was 87. Using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test to compare preoperative and postoperative scores, there was significant improvement in the ankle-hindfoot score postoperatively (p < 0.001). Seven patients had excellent results, seven had good results, one had a fair result, and two had poor results. Conclusions: Osteochondral lesions of the distal tibia present a challenge to the orthopedic surgeon. Arthroscopic treatment by means of debridement, curettage, abrasion arthroplasty, and, in some patients, transmalleolar drilling, microfracture, or iliac crest bone grafting, resulted in excellent and good results in 14 of 17 patients at medium-term followup.
Neuromuscular transmission in a mammalian preparation in the absence of blocking drugs and the effect of D‐tubocurarine

1. Neuromuscular transmission in the presence and absence of D‐tubocurarine was examined in cut muscle preparations of the rat diaphragm using intracellular recording techniques. The method of localizing the end‐plates is described and evidence is presented indicating that end‐plate potential (e.p.p.) recordings were made close to the end‐plate region and that reliable estimates of the quantum content of e.p.p.s could be made.
Noninvasive prenatal testing of fetal aneuploidies by massively parallel sequencing in a prospective Chinese population

The recently developed noninvasive prenatal test (NIPT) presents a new era of prenatal screening. Previously reported studies were primarily conducted on high‐risk and advanced maternal age (AMA) pregnancies. We sought to evaluate the performance of NIPT for detection of fetal aneuploidies in a Chinese cohort of women younger than 35 years old in a prospective clinical setting.
Analysis of Pesticide Use in Cocoa Production in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria.

The study focused on the economic analysis of pesticide use by cocoa farmers in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun state. Specifically, the study determines pesticide use level by cocoa farmers; the relationship between cocoa output and level inputs used and problems faced by the farmers with the use of pesticides were also determined. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics to examine the socioeconomic factors affecting pesticide use. Multiple regression analysis technique was adopted for determining the relationship between dependent and independent variable. Primary data were collected from fifty (50) cocoa farmers with the aid of well structured questionnaire as interview guide. The study revealed that cocoa production was more popular among illiterate farmers who constituted 40 percent of the respondents and majority of them were males with an average age of 61 years. The cocoa farmers had average of 14 people per household with an average farming experience of 47.5years. Majority (98.0%) of the farmers interviewed were married while about (2.0%) were single and they belonged to farmers’ cooperatives. The average land area for cocoa production was 7.18 hectares. The study further found out the factors affecting pesticides use in cocoa production include: farming experience (ά 0.05 ), cost of pesticides (ά 0.01 ) and income of the farmer (ά 0.1 ). The value of the coefficient of multiple determination (R 2 ) for the quantity of pesticide use was 0.761. The problems associated with pesticides use in cocoa-based production system in the study were found to be high cost of pesticide, adulteration of pesticides and non-availability of the pesticide at designated buying centres at the right time. This study concluded that pesticide use in cocoa production is a major productivity enhancing resource, although farmers used it below the recommended rate. The study therefore recommended among others, that it is necessary to sensitize cocoa farmers on the use of pesticide at a recommended rate and that there is need to make it available at subsidized rate with a view to enhancing their productivity.
Optimal unicast capacity of random geometric graphs: impact of multipacket transmission and reception

We establish a tight max-flow min-cut theorem for multi-commodity routing in random geometric graphs. We show that, as the number of nodes in the network n tends to infinity, the maximum concurrent flow (MCF) and the minimum cut-sparsity scale as ¿(n2r3(n)/k), for a random choice of k = ¿(n) source-destination pairs, where n and r(n) are the number of nodes and the communication range in the network respectively. The MCF equals the interference-free capacity of an ad-hoc network. We exploit this fact to develop novel graph theoretic techniques that can be used to deduce tight order bounds on the capacity of ad-hoc networks. We generalize all existing capacity results reported to date by showing that the per-commodity capacity of the network scales as ¿(1/r(n)k) for the single-packet reception model suggested by Gupta and Kumar, and as ¿(nr(n)/k) for the multiple-packet reception model suggested by others. More importantly, we show that, if the nodes in the network are capable of (perfect) multiple-packet transmission (MPT) and reception (MPR), then it is feasible to achieve the optimal scaling of ¿(n2r3(n)/k), despite the presence of interference. In comparison to the Gupta-Kumar model, the realization of MPT and MPR may require the deployment of a large number of antennas at each node or bandwidth expansion. Nevertheless, in stark contrast to the existing literature, our analysis presents the possibility of actually increasing the capacity of ad-hoc networks with n even while the communication range tends to zero!
Effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for skin disease other than toxic epidermal necrolysis: a retrospective review of Mayo Clinic experience.

OBJECTIVE To examine retrospectively the use and effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment of various skin diseases, primarily immunobullous disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS We identified patients who had received IVIg therapy for skin disease between 1996 and 2003 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn, Scottsdale, Ariz, and Jacksonville, Fla, and retrospectively reviewed their medical records. RESULTS Eighteen patients were treated with IVIg for various skin diseases: immunobullous disease in 11 adults (pemphigus vulgaris [7 patients], bullous pemphigold [3], and cicatricial pemphigoid [1]); dermatomyositis (2); mixed connective tissue disease (1); chronic urticaria (1); scleromyxedema (1); leukocytoclastic vasculitis (1); and linear IgA bullous disease (1). Responses of patients by type of disease were as follows: pemphigus vulgaris, 1 partial response (PR) and 6 no response (NR); bullous pemphigoid, 1 complete response (CR) and 2 NR; cicatricial pemphigoid, 1 NR; dermatomyositis, 1 CR and 1 PR; mixed connective tissue disease, 1 CR; chronic urticaria, 1 CR; scleromyxedema, 1 CR; leukocytoclastic vasculitis, 1 PR; and linear IgA bullous disease, 1 CR. Six patients (33%) experienced CR, 3 (17%) had PR, and 9 (50%) had NR to IVIg therapy. All 9 nonresponders were adult patients with immunobullous disease. CONCLUSION Although this was a retrospective study of a small cohort of a mixture of patients, the findings emphasize that our experience with IVIg treatment for skin disease, particularly immunobullous disease, is less favorable than that reported previously. Further studies are needed to verify the efficacy of IVIg for skin disease.
Target concentrations of remifentanil with propofol to blunt coughing during intubation, cuff inflation, and tracheal suctioning.

BACKGROUND The target blood concentrations of propofol and remifentanil, when used in combination, required to blunt the cough response to tracheal intubation, cuff inflation, and tracheal suctioning without neuromuscular blocking agents are not known. METHODS In a randomized prospective study, 81 patients were enrolled to determine which of three target remifentanil blood concentrations was required to blunt coughing during intubation, cuff inflation, and tracheal suctioning. Anaesthesia was achieved with propofol at a steady effect-site concentration of 3.5 microg ml(-1). The target blood remifentanil concentrations were 5, 10, or 15 ng ml(-1). These concentrations were maintained for 12 min before intubation. RESULTS There was no cough response to intubation in more than 74% of patients and no significant difference in the incidence of coughing with intubation between the three groups. Significant difference in coughing, diminishing with increasing remifentanil target concentration, was observed with cuff inflation (P=0.04) and tracheal suctioning (P=0.007). Bradycardia and hypotension was more frequent with the remifentanil target concentration of 15 ng ml(-1). Tracheal suctioning resulted in more coughing than intubation (P=0.01) or cuff inflation (P=0.004). CONCLUSION Target remifentanil blood concentrations of 5, 10, and 15 ng ml(-1) associated with a 3.5 microg ml(-1) propofol target blood concentration provided good intubating conditions and absence of cough about 75% of the time. Higher target remifentanil concentrations were associated with less coughing during tracheal tube cuff inflation and tracheal suctioning.
Leakage current minimization techniques for single-phase transformerless grid-connected PV inverters — An overview

This paper presents an overview about techniques employed to minimize the leakage current in single-phase transformerless grid-connected PV inverters, using topologies derived from the full-bridge voltage source inverter (VSI). Some representative topologies and common mode (CM) filter implementations are presented. Among the analyzed solutions, a CM filter integrated to the harmonics filter, applied to a conventional full-bridge converter with unipolar output voltage, represents a promising solution, confirmed by simulation and experimental results. Additionally, discussions about safety standards and analysis of leakage current production mechanism are presented.
Marginal discrepancy of monolithic and veneered all-ceramic crowns on titanium and zirconia implant abutments before and after adhesive cementation: a scanning electron microscopy analysis.

PURPOSE To evaluate the marginal discrepancy of monolithic and veneered all-ceramic crown systems cemented on titanium (Ti) and zirconia implant abutments. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixty customized implant abutments for a maxillary right central incisor were fabricated of Ti and zirconia (n = 30 of each) for an internal-connection implant system. All-ceramic crowns were fabricated using the following systems (n = 10 per group): monolithic with computer-aided design/computer-assisted manufacture (CAD/CAM) lithium disilicate (MLD), pressed lithium disilicate (PLD), or CAD yttrium-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP). The frameworks of the PLD and Y-TZP systems were manually veneered with a fluorapatite-based ceramic. The crowns were cemented to their implant abutments, and the absolute marginal discrepancy of the gap was measured before and after cementation. Data were analyzed statistically. RESULTS Marginal discrepancies were significantly influenced by the crown system and by cementation, but the material did not significantly affect the results. Interaction terms were not significant. Y-TZP crowns on both Ti and zirconia abutments presented the smallest mean marginal discrepancies before (52.1 ± 17 μm and 56.2 ± 11 μm, respectively) and after cementation (98.7 ± 17 μm and 101.8 ± 16 μm, respectively). Before cementation, MLD crowns showed significantly larger mean marginal openings than PLD crowns on both Ti and zirconia abutments (75.2 ± 12 and 77.5 ± 13 μm for MLD, 52.1 ± 17 μm and 69.7 ± 8 μm for PLD, respectively). After cementation, both Ti and zirconia abutments with MLD crowns (113.5 ± 12 μm and 118.3 ± 14 μm, respectively) showed significantly larger values than with PLD crowns (98.7 ± 17 μm and 109.4 ± 9 μm, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Manually veneered Y-TZP crowns demonstrated more favorable marginal fit on both Ti and zirconia implant abutments before and after cementation compared to those of MLD and PLD.
Hydroxyaldimines as potent in vitro anticryptococcal agents

Cryptococcosis, a fungal infection that affects both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals, contributes to increasing indices of mortality and morbidity. The development of resistance by Cryptococcus spp. , the limited number of commercial antifungal drugs and the various side effects of these drugs cause the treatment of cryptococcosis to be a challenge. The in vitro anticryptococcal activity of nine hydroxyaldimines was evaluated against 24 strains of Cryptococcus spp. Antifungal susceptibility was evaluated using a broth microdilution assay following the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines, using fluconazole as a positive control. Parameters such as the minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum fungicidal concentration (MIC and MFC, respectively) were also determined. Antiproliferative activity on the normal cell line VERO was assessed 48 h post‐compound exposure to determine the selectivity index (SI) of the hydroxyaldimines and fluconazole. All hydroxyaldimines were active against Cryptococcus spp. strains. Compounds 3A9 and 3B7 were the most potent against the Cryptococcus gattii and Cryptococcus neoformans strains. Selectivity indices also revealed that 3B10, 3C3, 3D3 and 3D9 are good candidates for in vivo studies. The in vitro anticryptococcal activity of hydroxyaldimines against various strains of C. gattii and C. neoformans indicates the potential of this class of molecules as lead compound for the development of selective and efficient anticryptococcal agents.