Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Automated Ski Velocity and Jump Length Determination in Ski Jumping Based on Unobtrusive and Wearable Sensors

Although ski jumping is a widely investigated sport, competitions and training sessions are rarely supported by state-of-the-art technology. Supporting technologies could focus on a continuous velocity determination and visualization for competitions as well as on an analysis of the velocity development and the jump length for training sessions. In the literature, there are several approaches for jump analysis. However, the majority of these approaches aim for a biomechanical analysis instead of a support system for frequent use. They do not fulfill the requirements of unobtrusiveness and usability that are necessary for a long-term application in competitions and training. In this paper, we propose an algorithm for ski velocity calculation and jump length determination based on the processing of unobtrusively obtained ski jumping data. Our algorithm is evaluated with data from eleven athletes in two different acquisitions. The results show an error of the velocity measurement at take-off of (which equals -3.0 % ± 4.7 % in reference to the estimated average take-off velocity) compared to a light barrier system. The error of the jump length compared to a video-based system is 0.8 m ± 2.9 m (which equals 0.9 % ± 3.4 % of the average jump length of the training jumps in this work). Although our proposed system does not outperform existing camera-based methods of jump length measurements at competitions, it provides an affordable and unobtrusive support for competitions and has the potential to simplify analyses in standard training.
Predicting Patient Advocacy Engagement: A Multiple Regression Analysis Using Data From Health Professionals in Acute-Care Hospitals

Although literature documents the need for hospital social workers, nurses, and medical residents to engage in patient advocacy, little information exists about what predicts the extent they do so. This study aims to identify predictors of health professionals’ patient advocacy engagement with respect to a broad range of patients’ problems. A cross-sectional research design was employed with a sample of 94 social workers, 97 nurses, and 104 medical residents recruited from eight hospitals in Los Angeles. Bivariate correlations explored whether seven scales (Patient Advocacy Eagerness, Ethical Commitment, Skills, Tangible Support, Organizational Receptivity, Belief Other Professionals Engage, and Belief the Hospital Empowers Patients) were associated with patient advocacy engagement, measured by the validated Patient Advocacy Engagement Scale. Regression analysis examined whether these scales, when controlling for sociodemographic and setting variables, predicted patient advocacy engagement. While all seven predictor scales were significantly associated with patient advocacy engagement in correlational analyses, only Eagerness, Skills, and Belief the Hospital Empowers Patients predicted patient advocacy engagement in regression analyses. Additionally, younger professionals engaged in higher levels of patient advocacy than older professionals, and social workers engaged in greater patient advocacy than nurses. Limitations and the utility of these findings for acute-care hospitals are discussed.
The effect of additional shots on the vaccine administration process: results of a time-motion study in 2 settings.

CONTEXT The introduction of combination vaccines to the pediatric regimen offers the possibility of reducing the number of injections required to reach full vaccination status. Fewer injections benefit the patient/child and the parent/caregiver, and the healthcare provider may benefit from savings in personnel time associated with vaccine administration. To date, however, these savings have not been quantified. OBJECTIVE To study the vaccine administration process in a managed care environment. STUDY DESIGN We studied 2 settings in which vaccinations were administered: (1) a devoted injection room and (2) the examination room as part of the well-child examination. For each setting, we documented the vaccine administration process, identified vaccine-related activities, and quantified the time savings in each activity by reductions in the number of shots. PATIENTS AND METHODS For vaccine recipients younger than 2 years, time-motion data on vaccine-related activities in 2 managed care settings were collected by a professional industrial engineering consultant. Activity time data by the number of shots administered were analyzed using linear regression adjusting for patient age. RESULTS We observed 276 vaccination visits (137 in an examination room, and 139 in an injection room). Total nurse time associated with vaccine administration decreased by 2.4 and 1.7 minutes per shot eliminated in the examination room setting (P = .006) and in the injection room setting (P < .001), respectively. Significant time savings were realized for activities associated with vaccine preparation, vaccine injection, and administrative duties. In addition, infant crying time decreased by 1.0 and 0.4 minutes per shot eliminated in the examination room and injection room settings, respectively (P < or = .001 for both). CONCLUSIONS Significant reductions in vaccine administration time could be achieved by eliminating injections during a well-child regimen.
The Effect of Apomorphine and Buspirone on Regional Cerebral Blood Flow During the Performance of a Cognitive Task—Measuring Neuromodulatory Effects of Psychotropic Drugs in Man

Psychopharmacological activation, in conjunction with positron emission tomographic measurements of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), was used to investigate the neurotransmitter basis of a specific cognitive function in man. Monoaminergic neurotransmission was pharmacologically manipulated during performance of auditory – verbal memory tasks. Statistical parametric mapping was used to identify the brain sites of interaction between memory‐induced increases in rCBF and active drugs. Memory task‐induced increases in rCBF in the left prefrontal cortex were attenuated by apomorphine, a non‐selective dopamine agonist, whilst buspirone, a serotonin1A partial agonist, augmented rCBF increases in this area. In addition, apomorphine and buspirone augmented memory‐induced increases in rCBF centred in the posterior cingulate cortex, whilst buspirone alone attenuated rCBF increases in the retrosplenial cortex and posterior parahippocampal gyrus. These regionally selective interactions may represent neuromodulatory effects of monoaminergic neurotransmission on a specific cognitive function in man.
Early membrane estrogenic effects required for full expression of slower genomic actions in a nerve cell line

Interpretations of steroid hormone actions as slow, nuclear, transcriptional events have frequently been seen as competing against inferences of rapid membrane actions. We have discovered conditions where membrane-limited effects potentiate later transcriptional actions in a nerve cell line. Making use of a two-pulse hormonal schedule in a transfection system, early and brief administration of conjugated, membrane-limited estradiol was necessary but not sufficient for full transcriptional potency of the second estrogen pulse. Efficacy of the first pulse depended on intact signal transduction pathways. Surprisingly, the actions of both pulses were blocked by a classical estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist. Thus, two different modes of steroid hormone action can synergize.
Gabexate mesilate, a synthetic anticoagulant, inhibits the expression of endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecules in vitro*

ObjectiveGabexate mesilate, a synthetic protease inhibitor, has been shown to reduce endotoxin-induced pulmonary vascular injury in an animal model of sepsis by inhibiting leukocyte activation. We examined whether gabexate mesilate inhibits tumor necrosis factor-&agr;-induced expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules in cultured endothelial cells. DesignProspective, randomized, controlled study. SettingResearch laboratory at a university medical center SubjectsCultured human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVECs). InterventionsHUVECs were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-&agr; or lipopolysaccharide in the presence or absence of gabexate mesilate. Expression of E-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 was measured by cellular enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Messenger RNA levels of E-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. DNA-binding activity of p65 in the nuclear extracts was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-&kgr;B induced by tumor necrosis factor-&agr; was evaluated by immunocytostaining and Western blot analysis. Degradation and phosphorylation of inhibitor of nuclear factor-&kgr;B (I&kgr;B) induced by tumor necrosis factor-&agr; were evaluated by Western blot analysis. Measurements and Main ResultsGabexate mesilate inhibited the tumor necrosis factor-&agr;-induced increases in the endothelial expression of E-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 by inhibiting the transcription. Tumor necrosis factor-&agr;-induced increase in DNA binding of p65 was inhibited by gabexate mesilate through inhibition of the nuclear translocation of p65. Gabexate mesilate inhibited the tumor necrosis factor-&agr;-induced degradation of I&kgr;B&agr;, an inhibitor of nuclear factor-&kgr;B, by inhibiting phosphorylation of I&kgr;B&agr; in HUVECs. ConclusionsGabexate mesilate inhibited the expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules by inhibiting the nuclear factor-&kgr;B-mediated transcription in HUVECs. Inhibition of nuclear factor-&kgr;B activation by gabexate mesilate could be explained by inhibition of degradation of I&kgr;B. Gabexate mesilate might reduce lipopolysaccharide-induced pulmonary vascular injury not only by inhibiting monocytic tumor necrosis factor-&agr; production but by inhibiting the expression of endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecules.
Suppression of Energy Requirement by Lidocaine in the Ischemic Mouse Brain

Effects of lidocaine on parameters of membrane functional integrity were investigated in the mouse brain. Changes in the direct-current potential shift in the cerebral cortex provoked by decapitation ischemia were compared in animals given lidocaine (0.05, 0.25, or 1.0 μmol, intracerebroventricular) or saline 15 minutes before ischemia. The brain content of adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) was measured in animals subjected to 0, 0.5, 1, and 2 minutes of decapitation ischemia, and the effect of preischemic administration of lidocaine (0.25 μmol, intracerebroventricular) was evaluated. Na+, K+-ATPase, and Ca2+-ATPase activity was evaluated in brains pretreated with lidocaine (0.25 μmol, intracerebroventricular) or saline 15 minutes before decapitation. Changes in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) were evaluated in hippocampal slices and the effects of lidocaine (50, 100, or 400 μM) were assessed in the hippocampal CA1 field and dentate gyrus at pH 7.4 and pH 6.8 every 60s for a duration of 50min. The preischemic administration of lidocaine (1.0 and 0.25 μmol) delayed the onset of anoxic depolarization to 49 seconds and 44 seconds, respectively, as compared with that in the saline group at 27 seconds. Lidocaine maintained ATP levels higher than those in corresponding saline groups, values being 165% after 1 minute of ischemia and 212% after 2 minutes, respectively. Lidocaine did not affect Na+, K+-ATPase, and Ca2+-ATPase activity. Lidocaine did not affect changes in the [Ca2+]i in either area at either pH. The findings may suggest that lidocaine maintains the energy level by delaying depolarization in neurons, which may contribute to removal of cytosolic Ca2+ in ischemic states.
Association of the Frizzled-related protein gene with symptomatic osteoarthritis at multiple sites.

OBJECTIVE To confirm the association of 2 variants of the Frizzled-related protein gene (FRZB) with osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip, and to investigate whether these variants also associate with other heritable generalized OA phenotypes. METHODS An association analysis of 2 variants (R200W and R324G) of FRZB was performed in a random sample of 1,369 subjects (ages 55-70 years) from a population-based cohort (the Rotterdam Study) scored for radiographic characteristics of OA in the hip, hand, spine, and knee and in a patient population of Caucasian probands (ages 40-70 years) and their siblings selected for the presence of primary symptomatic OA at multiple sites. RESULTS The allele frequency of the 2 variants was not significantly different between subjects with hip radiographic OA (ROA) and controls. The frequency of the G allele of the R324G variant was significantly increased in subjects with generalized ROA from the Rotterdam Study (0.10) and in subjects from the Genetics, osteoARthritis and Progression study (0.11) compared with that in controls from the Rotterdam Study (0.08). Carriers of this G allele had increased susceptibility for generalized ROA (odds ratio [OR] 1.4, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.9-1.9, P = 0.10) or familial symptomatic OA at multiple sites (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.3, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION Our results confirm that the R324G variant of the FRZB gene is involved in OA and indicate a role of this variant in several generalized OA phenotypes. A more extended OA phenotype may indeed be expected from genetic variation in an essential pathway of skeletal development such as Wnt signaling.
Coupled-inductor boost converter with simple resonant technique

A coupled-inductor boost converter (CIBC) is a popular solution for high step-up applications. In order to relieve the drawbacks caused by a coupled-inductor (CI) and to further improve the efficiency, the simple PWM resonant technique for the CIBC is presented. The proposed circuit utilizes the leakage inductance of a CI and a switch voltage clamping capacitor as a resonant tank, which requires only a small modification in a conventional circuit. The sinusoidal current waveform shaped by the resonant tank reduces the switch turn-off loss considerably as well as the reverse recovery on the diode. This results in higher efficiency without additional circuitry. A 24 V input and 220 V, 110W output prototype is built to verify the proposed circuit.
The neck of caveolae is a distinct plasma membrane subdomain that concentrates insulin receptors in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Insulin receptors (IRs) segregate on plasma membrane microvilli, but in cells devoid of microvilli, such as adipocytes, the localization of IRs is a matter of controversy. In the present study, we examined the distribution of IRs in the plasma membrane of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Quantitative electron microscopy indicates that IRs are predominantly associated with the neck, but not the bulb, of caveolae. Caveola necks represent distinct microdomains of the plasma membrane. Indeed, as shown by freeze–fracture analysis, intramembrane particles are concentrated as necklaces around the craters of caveolae. In addition, subcellular fractionation suggests that the neck and the bulb of caveolae present a different resistance to detergent solubility. Finally, cytoskeletal components, including actin, are highly enriched in the membrane area underlying the neck part of caveolae. IRs coimmunoprecipitate with cytoskeletal components, and disruption of the actin cytoskeleton alters IRs expression, localization, and signaling, thus supporting the notion that caveola necks are involved in intracellular signaling by IRs. Together, these results suggest that cytoskeletal proteins anchor IRs to microdomains in the caveola necks of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. By homology with IR localization in other cell types, we suggest that the necks of caveolae may represent the counterpart of microvillar domains in cells poor in microvilli such as adipocytes and that they play an important role as signaling platforms.
The Treatment of Pelvic Locoregional Recurrence of Cervical Cancer After Radical Surgery With Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy Compared With Conventional Radiotherapy: A Retrospective Study

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic response and toxicity of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) or conventional radiotherapy (c-RT) as adjuvant therapy in patients with pelvic locoregional recurrence of cervical cancer after radical surgery. Methods This retrospective study included 161 patients with unresectable pelvic locoregional recurrence of cervical cancer after radical surgery between March 2003 and May 2012. All patients were initially diagnosed with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IB-IIA cervical cancer and received radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. A total of 82 patients were treated with c-RT, whereas the remaining 79 patients underwent IMRT. Intracavitary brachytherapy and concurrent chemotherapy were performed during external irradiation. Results The mean dose delivered to the planning target volume was significantly higher in the IMRT group than in the c-RT group (61.8 vs 50.3 Gy, P = 0.029). Intensity-modulated radiation therapy plans yielded better dose sparing of small bowel, bladder, and rectum than did c-RT (P < 0.05). Moreover, the IMRT patients experienced less acute and chronic toxicities (P < 0.05) and better short-term effects (complete response + partial response) than did those treated with c-RT (89.9% vs 63.4%, P = 0.03). Three- and 5-year overall survival rates were significantly higher in the IMRT group than in the c-RT group (3-year: 58.4% vs 39.1%, P = 0.012; 5-year: 35.4% vs 21.4%, P = 0.007). Furthermore, 5-year progression-free survival rates were significantly higher in the IMRT group than in the c-RT group (26.1% vs 15.1%, P = 0.031). Conclusions Intensity-modulated radiation therapy achieved outcomes superior to c-RT in patients with pelvic locoregional recurrence of cervical cancer after radical surgery. The acute and chronic toxicities were acceptable, and the adjacent organs at risk were well protected.
Adult attachment stance and spouses' marital perceptions during the transition to parenthood

The relationship between adult attachment and marital perceptions was examined in couples making the transition to parenthood. The Adult Attachment Interview was administered to spouses prenatally, and marital perceptions were assessed prenatally and 3, 12, and 24 months postnatally. The couples were also observed during a marital interaction task. Spouses were assigned to groups based on their attachment security (secure/insecure) and mean level (low/high) of negative emotional escalation in their marital interactions. A series of two-way (attachment security by negative emotional escalation) repeated multivariate analyses of variance, followed by univariate analyses, revealed that insecure husbands and the wives of insecure husbands exhibited different patterns in their marital perceptions than secure husbands and the wives of secure husbands when in high negative escalation marriages. Insecure husbands and the wives of insecure husbands in high negative escalation marriages reported greater declines in positive marital perceptions or less positive marital perceptions overall across the two-year postnatal period than secure husbands and wives of secure husbands in similarly high conflict marriages. Such differences between secure and insecure husbands (and their wives) were not apparent in low negative escalation marriages. Findings are discussed in terms of the protective effect a secure attachment may convey upon spouses during stressful periods in their marriage.
Reversible Cognitive Decline Accompanies Migraine and Cluster Headaches

Vascular headaches, including migraine, cluster, and migrainous transformation to chronic daily headaches, are disabling. During and shortly after headache intervals, difficulties are reported in concentration, comprehension, and communication, not accounted for by nausea, photophobia, or sonophobia. These interfere with interpersonal relations and performance at work with economic loss. The hypothesis tested and reported here is that cognitive impairments comprise an important part of vascular headache diatheses. One hundred ninety‐six otherwise normative subjects suffering from migraine or cluster, but not tension‐type, headaches (136 women, 63 men; mean age, 46 years) participated in an outpatient prospective trial. One hundred thirty‐three patients had migraine without aura, 39 migraine with aura, 11 periodic cluster (by IHS criteria), and 13 had migrainous transformation into chronic daily headaches. Neuropsychological testing was compared with and without headaches, by combined Mini‐Mental Status Examination (MMSE), Cognitive Capacity Screening Examination (CCSE), and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). During headache intervals, significant decline was measured in both CCSE and MMSE scores (P < .001) without HDRS change in all types of vascular headache and independent of headache severity, which often improved, or associated physical symptoms. Cognitive decline was promptly relieved by serotonin agonists and sleep. Disorders of cerebral serotoninergic projection systems appear to cause these reversible cognitive impairments.
AC 2012-3889: A MODEL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENGINEERS

Important attributes for engineering professionals include an understanding of the global and societal impacts of engineering projects and a well-developed professional and ethical code of responsibility; these attributes must be developed in engineering students. Furthermore, the role of an engineer is becoming increasingly global, requiring an international perspective and crosscultural skills. The core foundation for these skills can be found in a well-developed sense of social responsibility, contextualized by the engineering profession. In this paper a new model for the development of personal and professional social responsibility is proposed, the Professional Social Responsibility Development Model. This model is a combination of three existing theoretical models describing altruistic behavior development, commitment levels to social issues and volunteering, and the integration of social issues into scientific processes. The first generation of an assessment tool based upon the constructs of the development model has been designed. The reliability of the assessment tool is established through test-retest and internal consistency, while validity is established by content and construct validity methods. Based upon the reliability and validity results, further development of this assessment tool is underway in order to develop a tool which can be used to assess engineering students’ understanding of social responsibility from multiple disciplines and academic years in a pre-post format.