Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thermoregulatory responses to exercise in the heat: chronic caffeine intake has no effect.

INTRODUCTION Authorities advise individuals to refrain from caffeine intake before or during exercise, especially when performed in the heat, due to potential fluid-electrolyte imbalances that exaggerate physiological strain. Yet, military personnel are often deployed to hot environments and must perform under sleep-deprived conditions where caffeine would be an ideal intervention strategy to enhance physical and cognitive performance. PURPOSE To assess the effects of controlled chronic and acute caffeine ingestion on fluid-electrolyte, physiological and thermoregulatory responses during an exercise heat tolerance test (EHT). METHODS Subjects were 59 active, college-aged males (mean +/- SE 21.6 +/- 0.4 yr, 177.9 +/- 0.8 cm, 75.4 +/- 1.0 kg, 11.1 +/- 0.7% body fat) who were randomized and stratified by age, bodyweight, and body composition into three groups. All subjects equilibrated caffeine intake at 3 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) for days 1-6. On days 7-12, they consumed a treatment dose of either 0 (G0), 3 (G3), or 6 (G6) mg x kg(-1) x d(-1). Fluid-electrolyte and physiological measures were made on day 12, 1 h after caffeine intake, during the EHT (90 min walking, 1.56 m x s(-1), 5% grade; dry bulb temperature, 37.7 +/- 0.1 degree C; relative humidity, 56.3 -1.5%). RESULTS There were no between-group differences (p > 0.05) in plasma, urinary, thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, and perceptual variables across time (pre- vs. post-EHT), although some of these variables increased significantly over time (p < 0.05). EHT time was significantly greater in G3 (86 +/- 2.0 min) vs. GO (75 +/- 3.3 min, p < 0.05). DISCUSSION Acute caffeine ingestion, in chronically consuming subjects (3 and 6 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) did not alter fluid-electrolyte, exercise endurance or thermoregulatory responses during EHT when compared with G0.
Paternal occupation and birth defects: findings from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study

Objectives Several epidemiological studies have suggested that certain paternal occupations may be associated with an increased prevalence of birth defects in offspring. Using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, the authors investigated the association between paternal occupation and birth defects in a case–control study of cases comprising over 60 different types of birth defects (n=9998) and non-malformed controls (n=4066) with dates of delivery between 1997 and 2004. Methods Using paternal occupational histories reported by mothers via telephone interview, jobs were systematically classified into 63 groups based on shared exposure profiles within occupation and industry. Data were analysed using Bayesian logistic regression with a hierarchical prior for dependent shrinkage to stabilise estimation with sparse data. Results Several occupations were associated with an increased prevalence of various birth defect categories, including mathematical, physical and computer scientists; artists; photographers and photo processors; food service workers; landscapers and groundskeepers; hairdressers and cosmetologists; office and administrative support workers; sawmill workers; petroleum and gas workers; chemical workers; printers; material moving equipment operators; and motor vehicle operators. Conclusions Findings from this study might be used to identify specific occupations worthy of further investigation and to generate hypotheses about chemical or physical exposures common to such occupations.
The Effect of Simulated Acid Rain on Glycine max

— Acid rain occurs when sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) and nitrogen oxides (No x ) gases react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form various acidic compounds. The result is a mild solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Soil has a greater buffering capacity than aquatic systems. However excessive amount of acids introduced by acid rains may disturb the entire soil chemistry. Acidity and harmful action of toxic elements damage vegetation while susceptible microbial species are eliminated. In present study, the effects of simulated sulphuric acid and nitric acid rains were investigated on crop Glycine max. The effect of acid rain on change in soil fertility was detected in which pH of control sample was 6.5 and pH of 1%H 2 SO 4 and 1%HNO 3 were 3.5. Nitrogen nitrate in soil was high in 1% HNO 3 treated soil & Control sample. Ammonium nitrogen in soil was low in 1% HNO 3 & H 2 SO 4 treated soil. Ammonium nitrogen was medium in control and other samples. The effect of acid rain on seed germination on 3 rd day of germination control sample growth was 7 cm, 0.1% HNO 3 was 8cm, and 0.001% HNO3 & 0.001% H2SO4 was 6cm each. On 10 th day fungal growth was observed in 1% and 0.1%H 2 SO 4 concentrations, when all plants were dead. The effect of acid rain on crop productivity was investigated on 3 rd day roots were developed in plants. On12 th day Glycine max showed more growth in 0.1% HNO 3, 0.001% HNO 3 and 0.001% H 2 SO 4 treated plants growth were same as compare to control plants. On 20 th day development of discoloration of plant pigments were observed on acid treated plants leaves. On 38 th day , 0.1, 0.001% HNO 3 and 0.1, 0.001% H 2 SO 4 treated plants and control plants were showing flower growth. On 42 th day, acid treated Glycine max variety and control plants were showed seeds on plants. In Glycine max variety 0.1, 0.001% H 2 SO 4, 0.1, 0.001% HNO3 treated plants were dead on 46th day and fungal growth was observed. The toxicological study was carried out on Glycine max plants exposed to 1% HNO 3 cells were damaged more than 1% H 2 SO 4 . Leaf sections exposed to 0.001% HNO 3 & H 2 SO 4 showed less damaged of cells and pigmentation observed in entire slide when compare with control plant. The soil analysis was done to find microorganisms in HNO 3 & H 2 SO 4 treated Glycine max and control plants. No microorganism growth was observed in 1% HNO 3 & H 2 SO 4 but control plant showed microbial growth.
Nonorgan specific autoantibodies and heart damage

Heart damage, mediated by different autoantibodies can involve several anatomical heart structures: valves, arteries, conduction tissue. Verrucous endocarditis is frequently reported in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) with or without systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), particularly if they suffer from central nervous system involvement. Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) were shown deposited at subendothelial level of the affected valves. According to several in vitro and in vivo experimental models, aPL, anti-oxidized LDL (oxLDL), anti-heat shock protein 65 (HSP65) and anti-endothelial cells antibodies (AECA) seem to be involved in the pathogenesis of the atherosclerosis phenomena described in systemic autoimmune disease and vasculitis. However, the observation of the association of the same antibodies with clinical and subclinical atherosclerosis in patients is still controversial. The children of anti-Ro/SSA positive mothers can be affected by the congenital heart block. Anti Ro/SS-A antibodies play a major pathogenic role in affecting the heart conduction tissue in this rare condition.
SOCIAL MEDIA & INTERNET: A STUDY IN START UP COMPANIES

This study is intended to further investigate this issue and gain a better understanding of how the Internet, especially social media, can really affect ecosystems and operations of start-up companies. A quantitative research using surveys has been applied and questionnaire data were collected from 104 start-up companies. The result of analysis shows that start-up companies have started using the Internet and social media as an integral part of their business ecosystem to increase sales where Fashion and Food & Beverage (F&B) are the types of businesses that gain most benefits.
Senescence in a Bacterium with Asymmetric Division

Senescence (or aging) is a deterioration of function with age manifested as a drop in survival and reproduction ( [1][1] ). A fundamental question about senescence has not been settled: Which organisms should be senescent, and which should be potentially immortal? We present evidence for senescence
Metal Toxicity Reduction in Naphthalene Biodegradation by Use of Metal-Chelating Adsorbents

ABSTRACT A model system comprising microbial degradation of naphthalene in the presence of cadmium has been developed to evaluate metal toxicity associated with polyaromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation and its reduction by the use of unmodified and surfactant-modified clays in comparison with a commercially available chelating resin (Chelex 100; Bio-Rad). The toxicity of cadmium associated with naphthalene biodegradation was shown to be reduced significantly by using the modified-clay complex and Chelex resin, while unmodified clay has no significant impact on this reduction. The degree of metal toxicity reduction can be quantitatively related to the metal adsorption characteristics of these adsorbents, such as adsorption capacity and selectivity.
Reduction of Verbal Pain Scores after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with 2-Day Continuous Femoral Nerve Block: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background:Single-injection femoral nerve block analgesia and spinal anesthesia have been associated with fewer postoperative nursing interventions and successful same-day discharge after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. In the current study, the authors prospectively determined the effect of continuous femoral nerve block on a numeric rating scale (NRS) of pain intensity with movement for 7 postoperative days. Methods:Patients undergoing this surgery with no history of previous invasive surgery on the same knee were recruited for this study. After standardized spinal anesthesia, intravenous sedation, and perioperative multimodal analgesia, patients received a femoral nerve catheter with (1) saline bolus (30 ml) plus saline infusion (270 ml at 5 ml/h, placebo group); (2) levobupivacaine (0.25%) bolus with saline infusion (group I), or (3) levobupivacaine (0.25%) bolus and infusion (group II). Patients were surveyed preoperatively and on postoperative days 1–4 and 7 to determine NRS scores (scale 0–10). Results:Data from 233 participants were analyzed. On days 1–2, 50% of placebo patients had NRS scores of 5 or above, whereas among group II patients, only 25% had scores of 5 or above (P < 0.001). In regression models for NRS scores during days 1–4, group II was the only factor predicting lower pain scores (odds ratios, 0.3–0.5; P = 0.001–0.03). Overall, patients with preoperative NRS scores greater than 2 were likely to report higher NRS scores during days 1–7 (odds ratios, 3.3–5.2; P < 0.001). Conclusions:Femoral nerve block catheters reliably keep NRS scores below the moderate-to-severe pain threshold for the first 4 days after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Twenty Years of Benchmarking in North Carolina: Lessons Learned from Comparison of Performance Statistics as Benchmarks

The North Carolina Benchmarking Project has been in existence for approximately 20 years, functioning under the benchmarking category of comparison of performance statistics as benchmarks. This form of benchmarking, however, is diagnostic, requiring subsequent analytical steps before local officials can actually use comparative data for improving service delivery. This article presents lessons learned from the North Carolina Benchmarking Project to advance our understanding of why local governments participate in these types of benchmarking initiatives and how they review and make decisions regarding the comparative data. They include that local governments participate more for the purpose of greater internal accountability rather than performance management and that local governments use benchmarking data both for excellence and satisficing when responding to departmental rankings.
User data sharing in online services

of the Dissertation User Data Sharing in Online Services by Yabing Liu Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science Northeastern University, November 2016 Dr. Alan Mislove, Advisor Over the last decade, online services like online social networks (OSNs) have exploded in popularity. Today, users can access these services anytime and anywhere, via both traditional web sites and mobile applications. These services differ significantly from prior systems. For example, one fundamental difference between OSN services and the “traditional” web is that these services embody users as first-class entities, meaning users are tightly linked to content as well as other users. As another example, the sharing of user personal data has emerged as a popular activity over these services, in contrast to prior systems that primarily distribute publisher-generated data. As large amounts of such user-generated data has become accessible, many researchers have leveraged it to examine user activities, patterns of interaction, and the structure of human social networks. However, a full accounting of the privacy implications of new online services—especially OSNs—for end users remains elusive. Privacy is of paramount importance on such services, as the providers monetize user data to enable their site-specific advertising services; these allow third parties (e.g., advertisers) to target users directly (by taking advantage of user-provided data). Unfortunately, there is still little quantification of user-selected privacy settings; the difficulty users face when managing their privacy; the scope, characteristics, and operation of advertising markets that provide the economic basis for online services; and the extent to which services and third parties are automatically collecting user data. In this thesis, we aim to develop novel measurement techniques to study the emerging privacy problems in the online ecosystem. We examine the user data sharing activities and the privacy implication of such behavior by focusing separately on each of the three primary players in the ecosystem on online services: end users, site operators, and third parties such as advertisers, with an ultimate goal to improve privacy for end users. To do so, we conduct the first large-scale measurement study to quantify the magnitude of the problem Facebook users have when managing privacy. Our
Impact of Review Characteristics on Female Consumer Perceptions of Review Usefulness and Patronage Intent of Online Stores Hosting the Reviews

Applying the S-O-R Model within an online context, a hypothesized model incorporates three review characteristics (perceived concreteness, exaggeration, and sufficient quantity of reviews) for apparel products in order to present their impact on consumer perceptions of review usefulness and consumer attitude toward and patronage intent for the online stores hosting the reviews. An online survey of Korean women ( N =299) reported their experiences in purchasing apparel products online and reading apparel reviews on a regular basis. Testing of the hypothesized model showed the usefulness of reviews were determined by two review characteristics (S: perceived concreteness and sufficient quantity of reviews); however, the negative effect of exaggerated reviews were insignificant. In addition, the perceived usefulness of reviews (O-cognitive) hosted by an online store influenced online store attitude (O-affective) which subsequently led to online store patronage intent (R). This study systemically advances online retail literature by showing how the characteristics of online reviews (as a part of the online store environment) can influence attitude toward online stores and patronage intent for online stores. Long term relationships with consumers can be achieved through the building of mechanisms to enhance the perceived usefulness of reviews by employing the strategies of hosting concrete reviews and offering a sufficient quantity of reviews. This study addresses removes research gaps by testing an adapted the S-O-R Model that frames review information as an element of an online store environment using a large sample. this study used a convenience sample of female consumers. Future studies are needed on male consumers.
Spanish validation of the Person-centered Care Assessment Tool (P-CAT)

Objectives: Person-centered Care (PCC) is an innovative approach which seeks to improve the quality of care services given to the care-dependent elderly. At present there are no Spanish language instruments for the evaluation of PCC delivered by elderly care services. The aim of this work is the adaptation and validation of the Person-centered Care Assessment Tool (P-CAT) for a Spanish population. Method: The P-CAT was translated and adapted into Spanish, then given to a sample of 1339 front-line care professionals from 56 residential elderly care homes. The reliability and validity of the P-CAT were analyzed, within the frameworks of Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory models. Results: The Spanish P-CAT demonstrated good reliability, with an alpha coefficient of . 88 and a test–retest reliability coefficient of . 79. The P-CAT information function indicates that the test measures with good precision for the majority of levels of the measured variables (θ values between −2 and +1). The factorial structure of the test is essentially one-dimensional and the item discrimination indices are high, with values between . 26 and . 61. In terms of predictive validity, the correlations which stand out are between the P-CAT and organizational climate (r = .689), and the burnout factors; personal accomplishment (r = .382), and emotional exhaustion (r = − .510). Conclusion: The Spanish version of the P-CAT demonstrates good psychometric properties for its use in the evaluation of elderly care homes both professionally and in research.
Cashless payment methods for informal traders

Over the past decade there was an increase in the availability and usage of cashless payment methods in Africa. Cashless payments allow users to make payments without using cash, and offer multiple benefits to both customers and merchants.These benefits include reduced costs, improved sales, improved security, convenience, etc. However, despite the increased variety, availability and popularity of cashless payment solutions in Africa, the usage of cashless payments methods in Africa is still mostly limited to money remittance and retail payments. While formal traders such as retailers are slowly adopting and reaping the benefits of cashless payments, the large majority of informal traders across the continent are yet to adopt cashless payments and still limited to use cash as their main (and often only) payment method. How cash and cashless payment methods differ from the informal trader’s point of view is not known yet; this study seeks to understand why cashless payment methods are yet to gain popularity amongst informal traders and meanwhile cash is widely adopted and used. This research analyses the characteristics, needs and limitations of informal traders and evaluates the ability of both cash and cashless payment methods to satisfy their payment needs. This is a cross-country case study that was conducted from an interpretivist stand point, employing a qualitative approach to data collection and data analysis, and using inductive theory-building. The cases investigated the use of payment methods by informal traders in Cape Town (South Africa) and Luanda (Angola), one case study was conducted in each city and it involved different group of participants namely street vendors, market vendors and bank consultants. The findings show that both cash and cashless payments have many characteristics that make them suitable for informal traders in Africa. Cashless payment methods proved to be superior to cash in some aspects such as security, but overall the disadvantages of cashless payment methods for informal traders out-weights its benefits.
The role of oedema in lacune formation.

I read with interest the recent paper by Ma and Olsson [1] concerning the proposed role of oedema in the formation of lacunes in Binswanger’s encephalopathy. From my own neuropathological observations I agree that the lesion they refer to as ‘oedema-associated gliosis’ is a common finding in the ageing brain, which is often associated with classical type 1 [2] lacunes and with diffuse white matter degeneration. The similarity of such lesions to those seen in rodent models of brain oedema may indeed suggest that focal blood-brain barrier breakdown at least contributes to their formation. However, their conclusion that these represent ‘developing’ lacunes is potentially misleading; the pathological features they describe suggest that they are of no more recent onset than the classical cavitated type 1 lacune with which they are compared. The relative sparsity of macrophages compared to classical lacunes is a reflection of the relatively minor tissue damage, and is, I suggest, a manifestation of so-called ‘incomplete infarction’ rather than evolving or developing infarction. Incomplete infarction has long been recognised as a consequence of global cerebral circulatory insufficiency, but is now recognised also to result from arterial occlusion of short duration and/or moderate severity [3, 4]. The importance of this concept is that it implies mechanisms other than permanent occlusive lesions of penetrating endarteries which, by definition, will produce foci of coagulative pannecrosis of all cellular elements (or classical type 1 lacunes). Possible underlying causes might therefore include transient embolic occlusion and transiently or moderately reduced local cerebral blood flow, perhaps as a consequence of global cerebral circulatory insufficiency with local subtotal small-vessel stenosis. With regard to the former possibility, we have been impressed by a relatively high frequency of possible sources of cerebral emboli in our cases, as well as by the pathological similarity of the lesions to those seen in a rat model of cerebral platelet emboli [5]. As regards the latter, the consensus view as to the aetiopathogenesis of Binswanger’s subcortical arteriosclerotic encephalopathy is that it is ischaemic in origin, whether this is mediated by cerebral small-vessel narrowing, blood pressure or cerebral blood flow autoregulatory dysregulation or other factors [reviewed in 6]. Whilst not denying the possible importance of oedema-mediated tissue damage in any brain infarct, it is perhaps more useful to regard ‘oedema-associated gliosis’ as ‘incomplete’ small, deep (lacunar) infarcts. This interpretation may better focus the search for the underlying cause.