Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of different accentuated eccentric load levels in eccentric-concentric loading contractions on acute neuromuscular, growth hormone and blood lactate responses during a hypertrophic protocol

Timo Ojasto 2007. The effect of different accentuated eccentric load levels in eccentricconcentric loading contractions on acute neuromuscular, growth hormone and blood lactate responses during a hypertrophic protocol. Science of Sport Coaching and Fitness Testing, Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä. 92 pp. When accentuated load is applied during the eccentric (ECC) phase of eccentric-concentric (ECC-CON) contractions, it is defined as dynamic accentuated external resistance (DAER) exercise. This study monitored acute neuromuscular responses, growth hormone (GH) and blood lactate (La) concentrations to find out the most efficient ECC-CON loading strategy for muscle hypertrophy by employing various DAER resistances in the bench-press. Male subjects (age=32.4±4.3years, n=11) were assigned as subjects. The measurements consisted of 4 “hypertrophic” sessions separated by 5-6 days recovery. The subjects performed 4 sets of 10 repetitions with 2 min recovery between the sets. The resistances were 70%, 80%, 90% and 100% of 1 RM for the ECC phase and 70% RM was constantly used for the CON phase. Muscle EMG, growth hormone (GH) and blood lactate (La) were measured at pre and post conditions in ISOM bench press and EMG was measured also in the 2 nd (pre) and last (post) repetitions in dynamic measurements. ECC force was systematically smaller in the 70% condition than in the other conditions (P<0.001). Significant reductions in ISOM pre to post peak force occurred in all conditions (P<0.01-0.001). CON force reduced from pre to post loading in all conditions (P<0.001). Pre to post change in La in the 90% condition (9.5±2.3mmol/l) was greater (P<0.05) than in the 70% condition (7.7±1.1mmol/l). The highest individual pre to post change in La was larger after the 90% (p<0.001) condition compared to La after the control condition. No significant differences were observed in absolute mean post GH and in GH/repetition concentrations between the conditions. ECC EMG of the agonists increased with the increase in load but was significant only in deltoid anterior (P<0.01). A significant relationship (P<0.05) was observed between optimal ECC load and 1RM/bodymass-ratio (R=0.85). The major findings in the present study were the higher change of La in the 90% condition compared to the 70% condition (P< 0.05) and the high correlation between the optimal ECC load and 1RM/BM-ratio. The findings can be applied into practice in designing optimal exercise protocols in training for muscle hypertrophy and suggest the importance of individualised load selection for DAER exercises.
A novel non-linear GaAs fet model for intermodulation analysis in general purpose harmonic-balance simulators

The ability of most widely used non-linear MESFET models to predict detailed device's characteristics, as S parameter bias dependence and intermodulation (IMD) is reviewed. Their almost general lack of capacity to reproduce the higher order derivatives of the I(v) and Q(v) curves, makes them completely useless to simulate small signal harmonic or IMD distortions. Since the usual proposed alternative is based on truncated Taylor Series, which is not applicable to DC bias calculations or strong non-linear operation, there is not a single model that can be selected for all these kinds of problems. The aim of this work is to present a novel GaAs FET model that integrates these two domains of microwave non-linear simulation.
Perioperative HDR Brachytherapy for Reirradiation in Head and Neck Recurrences: Single-institution Experience and Systematic Review

Aim The aim of our study was to evaluate the outcomes of patients reirradiated with high-dose-rate (HDR) intensity-modulated brachytherapy (IMBT) for recurrent head and neck cancer and to perform a systematic review of the literature. Materials and Methods Patients treated with prior radiation doses >65 Gy were considered. After resection of macroscopic disease, catheters were fixed to the tumor bed. The total dose was 30 Gy in 12 fractions of 2.5 Gy twice daily for 5 days a week. A systematic literature search was conducted through several electronic databases including Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Embase and the Cochrane library. Results Seventeen patients were included; median overall survival was 19 months with a median local control interval of 15 months. Median follow-up was 36 months. Seven papers were considered for the review. Conclusions IMBT could play an important role in the retreatment of recurrent head and neck cancer.
Half of the Emirati Population Has Abnormal Red Cell Parameters: Challenges for Standards and Screening Guidelines

Abstract In populations with high prevalences of iron deficiency and thalassemia trait, many apparently healthy individuals have abnormal erythroid parameters, which may cause diagnostic problems in clinical practice. We studied the prevalence and causes of red cell parameter values outside their reference ranges in 394 healthy individuals of Bedouin Arab origin, who had complete blood counts (CBCs), hemoglobin (Hb) analyses and serum ferritin tests done. Their mean age ± standard deviation (SD) was 24.8 ± 4.9 years and 51.8% were females. Overall, 53.0% (209/394) had low Hb, MCV or MCH or high RDW. Anemia was present in 27.0% (55/204) of the women and 3.0% (6/190) of the men. Overall prevalence of MCV <80.0 fL was 45.0% (176/394) and MCH <27.0 pg was 48.0% (190/394); RDW >14.0% was found in 21.0% (43/204) of women and 7.0% (14/190) of men. Of the women, 16.0% had iron deficiency anemia (33/204) and 65.0% had ferritin values of <30.0 μg/L (133/204). The estimated prevalence of α-thalassemia (α-thal) trait in men was 32.0% (60/190) and that of β-thalassemia (β-thal) trait in both sexes was 3.0% (12/394). In conclusion, half of the healthy Emirati population have abnormal CBC values. For clinical purposes, they require reference standards for red cells that are derived from their own population. Screening of women for iron deficiency is justified due to a high prevalence of iron deficiency.
The Validity and Reliability of the Interaction Anxiousness Scale: Gender and Social Status Differences among Turkish Adolescents

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the validity and reliability of the Interaction Anxiousness Scale and to examine whether there are gender and social status differences among Turkish adolescents. The Interaction Anxiousness Scale, is a 21-item Likert-type scale, was distributed to several high schools and data obtained from 622 students was examined. Cronbach’s Alpha reliability was found to be . 86, and split-half reliability was calculated as . 74 for the first half and . 79 for the second half of the data. For reliability, Spearman-Brown and Guttman’s reliability coefficients were also calculated and found to be . 85 for both. Analysis of the data revealed acceptable results for Turkish adolescents. A paired sample t test was carried out for the examination of gender differences, and a one-way ANOVA was conducted to analyze social status differences in social anxiety, but no statistically significant differences were found.
Breathing disorders during sleep in myasthenia gravis

Twenty consecutive patients (16 women and 4 men), with a mean age of 40 years, who were diagnosed and treated for myasthenia gravis were enrolled in a prospective investigation aimed at determining the amount of respiratory disturbance occurring during sleep while they received treatment. Patients were clinically evaluated to determine body mass index, presence of upper airway anatomical abnormalities, level of functional capacity and activity scored from 1 to 5, and presence of sleep‐related complaints. They underwent daytime pulmonary function tests, determination of maximal static inspiratory pressure, measurement of transdiaphragmatic pressure, and measurement of arterial blood gas levels. Polygraphic monitoring during sleep, evaluating respiration and oxygen saturation, was also performed. Results indicated that in the studied population, all subjects had evidence of daytime diaphragmatic weakness as demonstrated by transdiaphragmatic pressure measurements, independent of the degree of autonomy and functional capacity and activity level reached. Older patients with moderately increased body mass index, abnormal total lung capacity, and abnormal daytime blood gas concentrations were the primary candidates for development of diaphragmatic sleep apneas and hypopneas, and oxygen desaturation of less than 90% during sleep. However, these clear indicators were not found in all subjects with sleep‐related disordered breathing. Rapid‐eye‐movement sleep was the time of highest breathing vulnerability during sleep. Sleep‐related complaints may also help identify subjects at risk for abnormal breathing during sleep, even when daytime functional activity is judged normal.
Effect of body mass index on serum leptin levels.

BACKGROUND Leptin is product of ob gene, an adipose tissue derived hormone that plays a key role in the regulation of body fat mass by regulating appetite and metabolism while balancing energy intake and energy expenditure. The objective of the study was to evaluate possible association between serum Leptin levels and Body Mass Index (BMI) of gender in adult age group. METHODS Two-hundred-seventy subjects aged 20-50 years were randomly selected from general population of Abbottabad. After complete evaluation, demographic data was recorded and BMI calculated. The subjects were grouped on the basis on BMI. Non-fasting venous blood samples were drawn to measure serum Leptin and serum glucose levels. The data were analysed using SPSS-15. RESULTS Serum Leptin levels and differences between genders were significant in all body mass indices. For normal BMI group the mean values for leptin were 2.6 +/- 1.5 etag/ml in men, and 17.3 +/- 10.2 etag/ml in women. For Group-2 mean leptin levels were 9.9 +/- 6.8 etag/ml in men, and 34.8 +/- 13.6 etag/ml in women. For Group-3 BMI comprising obese subjects mean values were 21.3 +/- 14.2 etag/ml in men, and 48.21 +/- 21.2 etag/ml in women (p<0.001). CONCLUSION A progressive increase in serum leptin concentration was observed with an increase in BMI. Significant difference between leptin concentrations in either gender was found in normal, overweight and obese subjects.
Purification and characterization of the recombinant form of Acyl CoA oxidase 3 from the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica.

The Acyl CoA dependent oxidase 3 (Aox3p) from the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, expressed in Escherichia coli, as an active protein with a 6 His tag at its N-terminal region has been purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. The purified enzyme exhibits a specific activity of 1.95 microM/min/mg using hexanoyl-CoA as substrate, and it remains active for at least 1 month upon storage at -30 degrees C in the presence of 35% (V/V) glycerol. The pH and temperature optima of the enzyme are 7.4 and 28-38 degrees C, respectively. Aox3p catalyzes the oxidation of both aliphatic acyl-CoA substrates of different chain lengths (e.g., hexanoyl-CoA, decanoyl-CoA, myristyl-CoA) as well as of the aromatic/heterocyclic ring-substituted chromogenic substrates, such as furylpropionyl-CoA. Of the above substrates, the efficiency of the enzyme, as judged by its kcat to Km ratio, exhibits the following order: decanoyl CoA > myristyl CoA > hexanoyl CoA > furyl-propionyl-CoA (FPCoA). Phenol, which is normally used in the coupled assay system for monitoring the H2O2 formation, functions as both an activator (at low concentrations) and a competitive inhibitor (at high concentrations) with respect to acyl-CoA substrates. The magnitude of activation and inhibition of the enzyme is dependent on the nature of the acyl-CoA substrates.
Pancreatic Acinar Cell Carcinoma

Acinar cell carcinomas (ACCs) are rare neoplasms that represent less than 2% of all exocrine tumors of the pancreas. Although they occur more often in adults between the 5th and 7th decades of life, a few cases have been reported in children. Histologically, ACCs can resemble islet cell tumors, but they differ in their ultrastructural and immunohistochemical features. Although ACCs present a bland histology, they are highly malignant and the survival of patients with these tumors, even though better than that of those with ductal cell carcinomas, is generally poor.
Age‐related vulnerabilities along the hippocampal longitudinal axis

Evidence for an anterior‐posterior gradient of age‐related volume reduction along the hippocampal longitudinal axis has been reported in normal aging, but functional changes have yet to be systematically investigated. The current study applied an advanced brain mapping technique, large deformation diffeomorphic metric mapping (LDDMM), automatically delineating the hippocampus into the anterior and posterior segments based on anatomical landmarks. We studied this anterior‐posterior gradient in terms of structural and functional MRI in 66 participants aged from 19 to 79 years. The results showed age‐related structural volume reduction in both anterior and posterior hippocampi, with greater tendency for anterior decrease. FMRI task contrasts that robustly activated the anterior (associative/relational processing) and posterior (novelty) hippocampus independently, showed only significant reduction of activation in the anterior hippocampus as age increased. Our results revealed positive correlation between structural atrophy and functional decrease in the anterior hippocampi, regardless of task performance in normal aging. These findings suggest that anatomy and functions related to the anterior hippocampus may be more vulnerable to aging, than previously thought. Hum Brain Mapp 33:2415–2427, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Lung Nodule Detection and Classification

Detection of malignant lung nodules in chest radiographs is currently performed by pulmonary radiologists, potentially with the aid of CAD systems. Recent advancements in convolutional neural network (CNN) models have improved image classification and detection for many tasks, but there has been little exploration of their use for nodule detection in chest radiographs. In this paper we explore using a ResNet CNN model with transfer learning to classify complete chest radiographs as non-nodule, benign nodule, or malignant nodule, and to localize the nodule, if present. The model is able to classify radiographs as nodule or nonnodule with 92% sensitivity and 86% specificity, but is less able to distinguish between benign and malignant nodules. The model is also able to determine the general nodule regions but is unable to determine exact nodule locations.
Individual sensitivity to pain expectancy is related to differential activation of the hippocampus and amygdala

Anxiety arising during pain expectancy can modulate the subjective experience of pain. However, individuals differ in their sensitivity to pain expectancy. The amygdale and hippocampus were proposed to mediate the behavioral response to aversive stimuli. However, their differential role in mediating anxiety‐related individual differences is not clear. Using fMRI, we investigated brain activity during expectancy to cued or uncued thermal pain applied to the wrist. Following each stimulation participants rated the intensity of the painful experience. Activations in the amygdala and hippocampus were examined with respect to individual differences in harm avoidance (HA) personality trait, and individual sensitivity to expectancy, (i.e. response to cued vs. uncued painful stimuli). Only half of the subjects reported on cued pain as being more painful than uncued pain. In addition, we found a different activation profile for the amygdala and hippocampus during pain expectancy and experience. The amygdala was more active during expectancy and this activity was correlated with HA scores. The hippocampal activity was equally increased during both pain expectancy and experience, and correlated with the individual's sensitivity to expectancy. Our findings suggest that the amygdala supports an innate tendency to approach or avoid pain as reflected in HA trait, whereas the hippocampus mediates the effect of context possibly via appraisal of the stimulus value. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of an HLA‐A*0201‐restricted T‐cell epitope derived from the prostate cancer‐associated protein trp‐p8

New concepts for the immunotherapy of prostate carcinoma (PCa) largely depend on the identification of suitable target antigens that are present in a high percentage of prostate tumors. Their expression in normal tissues should be restricted to the prostate and they should be immunogenic in vivo. The number of antigens displaying these properties is still limited. Here, we identify for the first time an immunogenic peptide derived from the prostate‐specific protein transient receptor potential‐p8 (trp‐p8) that is recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) from PCa patients.
Comparison of patient outcomes according to histology among pemetrexed-treated patients with stage IIIB/IV non-small-cell lung cancer in two phase II trials.

INTRODUCTION Recent phase III studies in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have demonstrated differential efficacy for pemetrexed according to NSCLC histology. The results of 2 phase II studies of pemetrexed and a platinum agent (carboplatin or oxaliplatin) were pooled to determine whether outcomes in the studies differed by tumor histology. PATIENTS AND METHODS Chemotherapy-naive patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC received pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 plus carboplatin area under the curve of 6 (n = 89) or pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 plus oxaliplatin 120 mg/m2 (n = 41); both regimens were administered every 21 days. The primary endpoint of both trials was response rate. Treatment arms were pooled, and Cox models with main effects for squamous histology were used to assess overall survival and progression-free survival. Cofactor adjustments incorporated terms for performance status, disease stage, and sex. RESULTS More than three quarters of enrolled patients had a nonsquamous histology. Mean age was 59.9 years for patients with nonsquamous histology and 63.7 years for patients with squamous histology. Response rates were 30% for patients with nonsquamous histology and 17.2% for patients with squamous histology. Overall survival was 10.5 months for patients with nonsquamous histology and 9.8 months for patients with squamous histology (hazard ratio [HR], 0.95; 95% CI, 0.52-1.74). Progression-free survival was 5.6 months for patients with nonsquamous histology and 4.7 months for patients with squamous histology (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.43-1.19). CONCLUSION In patients treated with pemetrexed/ platinum doublets, nonsquamous histology was associated with better outcomes. The benefit of pemetrexed treatment among patients with nonsquamous histology is consistent with the results reported from previous studies.
Lower Stroke Mortality Among Hispanics: An Exploration of Potential Methodological Confounders

Objectives:Stroke mortality rates are reported to be lower for Hispanics than non-Hispanic Whites. We investigate the degree to which this lower reported mortality is explained by inaccuracies introduced through omission of nativity, imprecise measurement of cause of death, and under-ascertainment of Hispanic ethnicity on death certificates. We used national vital registration data for the years 1989–1991 and 1999–2002, including foreign- and US-born Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites. Hispanic deaths were adjusted for misclassification of ethnicity on the death certificate. Denominators for the rates were derived from census estimates. Results:Adjustment for nativity and death certificate misclassification removes the stroke mortality advantage for US-born Hispanic men, but not women. After adjustment, US-born Hispanic men and women have higher rates of mortality from subarachnoid hemorrhage than non-Hispanic Whites (RR: 1.23 and 1.23, respectively), but lower rates of mortality from Ischemic (RR: 0.76 and 0.73, respectively) and chronic effects of stroke (RR: 0.87 and 0.73, respectively). Conclusions:When adjusted for misclassification the lower stroke mortality remains for Hispanic men and women at older ages. Part of the previously reported advantage is a combination of imprecise measurement and data quality.
Where Does Research Occur in Geriatrics and Gerontology?

The International Plan of Action on Aging 2002 emphasized the need to promote and develop research on aging, especially in underdeveloped countries. This article aims at describing the current situation with regard to the international scientific production in the field of geriatrics and gerontology. All articles published in journals included in the categories “Geriatrics and Gerontology” of the Science Citation Index or “Gerontology” of the Social Science Citation Index in 2002 were analyzed. There is unquestionable predomination by the United States, which participates in 53.8% of the articles analyzed, followed by the United Kingdom (9.66%) and Canada (6.66%). The production of the 15 European Union countries together is 31.2%. When adjustments are made for economic or population factors, other countries show their importance: Israel and Sweden, for example. Authors from richer countries participate in more than 95% of the articles, whereas those in less‐developed countries tend to publish less, and when they do so, it is through collaboration with more‐developed countries. In general, only 10.5% of the articles are written in collaboration with institutions from different countries. One of the keys to stimulating research in less wealthy countries would seem to be precisely through collaboration. This would aid the transfer of knowledge and experience, allowing researchers in these countries to obtain autonomy to perform their own studies independently and to provide them with the ability to gain access for their publications at the international level.
Inhibition of Xanthine Oxidase by Thiosemicarbazones, Hydrazones and Dithiocarbazates Derived from Hydroxy‐Substituted Benzaldehydes

Nonpurine xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) inhibitors represent important alternatives to the purine analogue allopurinol, which is still the most widely used drug in the treatment of conditions associated with elevated uric acid levels in the blood. By condensing mono‐, di‐ and trihydroxybenzaldehydes with aromatic thiosemicarbazides, aryl hydrazides and dithiocarbazates, three series of structurally related Schiff bases were synthesised, characterised and tested for XOR inhibitory activity. Hydroxy substitution in the para‐position of the benzaldehyde component was found to confer high inhibitory activities. Acyl hydrazones were generally less potent than thiocarbonyl‐containing Schiff bases. Within the thiosemicarbazone series, chloro and cyano substituents in the para‐position of the thiosemicarbazide unit increased activities further, up to potencies approximately four‐times higher than that of the benchmark allopurinol, as measured under the same assay conditions. In order to illustrate the potential of the Schiff bases to bind directly to the molybdenum centre in the active site of the enzyme, a representative example (H2L) of each inhibitor series was co‐ordinated to a cis‐dioxomolybdenum(VI) unit, and the resulting complexes, [MoO2(L)MeOH], were structurally characterised. Subsequent steady‐state kinetic investigations, however, indicated mixed‐type inhibition, similar to that observed for inhibitors known to bind within the substrate access channel of the enzyme, remote from the Mo centre. Enzyme co‐crystallisation studies are thus required to determine the exact binding mode. Finally, the coordination of representative inhibitors to copper(II) gave rise to significantly decreased IC50 values, revealing an additive effect that merits further investigation.