Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physical and Mechanical Properties of Heat Treated Daniella oliveri (Africa Balsam Tree) Wood

Aims: This work investigated the effect of thermal modification on some of the physical properties and mechanical properties of Daniella oliveri wood. Study Design: The study design used for this experiment was 3 x4 Factorial experiment in Completely Randomized Design. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Federal University of Technology, Akure wood laboratory and the study lasted for 6 months. Methodology: Wood samples were thermally treated at the temperature of 120, 140, 160 and 180°C, for different durations of 1, 1.5 and 2 hours in a muffle furnace. The planks were air-dried to reduce the moisture content and then machined into the required dimensions in the direction parallel to grain with a circular saw. Thirty-nine defect-free samples of dimensions 20 mm × 20 mm × 60 mm were prepared for dimensional stability and compression test, static bending tests and the hardness tests to make a total of 117 samples. Results: The result showed that the average weight loss of the treated wood samples varied from 3.79% at 120°C for 1 hour to 7.51% at 180°C for 2 hours. The treatment led to reduction in density from 528 to 459 kg/m3 at 180°C for 2 hours. The heat treatment also led to reduction in water absorption and volumetric swelling of the treated samples. The mean value for Modulus of elasticity (MOE) ranges from 2.17x103 N/mm2 to 2.96 x 103 N/mm2 for the treated samples while the untreated was 2.22x103 N/mm2. Heat treatment brought about improvement in the maximum compressive strength and the Janka hardness parallel to the grain of wood samples. The value of compressive strength increased from 26.58 N/mm2 to 41.71 N/mm2 and hardness from 69.24 N to 75.5 N. It can therefore be concluded that thermal modification greatly enhanced the dimensional stability and mechanical properties of wood samples.
Myosin Heavy Chain Composition of Single Muscle Fibers in Male Distance Runners

The purpose of this study was to characterize the myosin heavy chain (MHC) composition of single muscle fibers from the gastrocnemius of male collegiate distance (DIST; n = 7), middle-distance (MID; n = 6), and recreational runners (REC; n = 6). Additionally, mATPase histochemistry was used to serve as a comparison to previous studies and the single fiber MHC technique. SDS-PAGE of single muscle fibers revealed a higher proportion of MHC I in DIST compared to MID and REC (74.9 +/- 4.3 vs 54.4 +/- 2.8 vs 56.2 +/- 2.9 %, respectively; p < 0.05), less MHC IIa/IIx in DIST compared to MID and REC (0.0 +/- 0.0 vs 6.0 +/- 2.4 vs 15.9 +/- 4.2 %, respectively; p < 0.05), and more total hybrids (I/IIa+IIa/IIx+I/IIa/IIx) in REC than both run groups, DIST and MID (23.0 +/- 3.3 vs 6.2 +/- 1.1 vs 13.2 +/- 2.6 %, respectively; p < 0.05). ATPase histochemistry (pH 4.54) revealed a higher percentage of type I fibers in DIST compared to MID and REC (71.1 +/- 3.1 vs 56.3 +/- 2.5 vs 59.8 +/- 2.3 %, respectively; p < 0.05), a higher percentage of type IIa in MID compared to DIST and REC (43.3 +/- 2.7 vs 28.5 +/- 3.1 vs. 30.2 +/- 3.1 %, p < 0.05), and a higher distribution of type IIb in REC than both run groups (10.0 +/- 2.7 vs 0.4 +/- 0.2 vs 0.4 +/- 0.2 %, p < 0.05). These results suggest that distance running leads to an increase in MHC I expression, training for mid-distance events leads to a prevalence of MHC IIa, and run training leads to a decrease in hybrid fibers.
Predictive factors for postoperative visual acuity following multifocal diffractive intraocular lens implantation using corneal topography and tomography

Title Predictive factors for postoperative visual acuity following multifocal diffractive intraocular lens implantation using corneal topography and tomography Author(s) 植木, 亮太郎 Citation Nagasaki University (長崎大学), 博士(医学) (2019-03-06) Issue Date 2019-03-06 URL http://hdl.handle. net/10069/39210 Right (C) 2019 Nagasaki University School of Medicine NAOSITE: Nagasaki University's Academic Output SITE
A new strategy to understand how HIV infects women: identification of a window of vulnerability during the menstrual cycle.

Although 85% of new HIV cases are due to sexual transmission from men to women little attention is being paid to the immune system in the female reproductive tract (FRT) and to how it meets the conflicting challenges of protecting from pathogens and permitting procreation. As a new approach we have tried to envision how HIV evades FRT mucosal immune protection and have been led to the unexpected conclusion that in a normal menstrual cycle there is a window of vulnerability (7-10 days following ovulation) in which the potential for viral infectivity in the FRT is enhanced. During that period aspects of the innate humoral and cell-mediated immune systems are suppressed by sex hormones to optimize conditions for procreation. Suppression occurs in the upper (Fallopian tubes uterus endocervix) and lower (ectocervix and vagina) FRT and coincides with the recruitment of potentially infectable cells and upregulation of coreceptors essential for viral uptake. Implications of these findings are that the entire FRT is a potential target for HIV infection immune cells and antibodies in blood are not surrogate markers for immune protection in the FRT and immune protection against HIV will require an understanding of the hormone-induced regulation of humoral cellmediated and innate immune systems throughout the FRT. (excerpt)
Mortality study of construction workers in the UK.

BACKGROUND Construction is one of the most dangerous industries in the world. However, there has been little literature on occupational epidemiology in this field. A study of the mortality experience over a 13-year period among construction workers in the UK was carried out. METHOD This was based on 15,007 death certificates of members of the Building and Civil Engineering Holiday and Benefit Scheme, who had died during 1975 to 1987 aged 20-64 years. Proportional mortality ratio (PMR) and mortality odds ratio techniques were used. RESULTS Significantly elevated PMR were found for deaths from all cancers, including cancer of the lung and stomach, and for accidental deaths. Associations were demonstrated between several job categories and an increased risk of cancer mortality. Occupational exposures to hazardous substances may have contributed to the elevated cancer mortality, although the study findings should be interpreted with caution. Inadequate supervision of safety procedures, together with a high proportion of young and inexperienced workers, may be associated with the high number of accidental deaths. CONCLUSIONS The results support the hypothesis that working in the construction industry is associated with a high risk for accidental death and probably also for malignant diseases including lung, mesothelium and stomach cancers. Further epidemiological studies among construction workers are needed to support policies aimed at improving occupational health, including the prevention of accidents.
In vitro comparison of cryopreserved and liquid platelets: potential clinical implications

Platelet (PLT) concentrates can be cryopreserved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and stored at −80°C for 2 years. These storage conditions improve availability in both rural and military environments. Previous phenotypic and in vitro studies of cryopreserved PLTs are limited by comparison to fresh liquid‐stored PLTs, rather than PLTs stored over their clinically relevant shelf life. Further, nothing is known of the effect of reconstituting cryopreserved PLTs in plasma stored at a variety of clinically relevant temperatures.
Efficacy of thermal balloon ablation in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess changes in menstrual pattern, quality of life, and patient satisfaction after thermal balloon ablation for abnormal uterine bleeding. STUDY DESIGN One hundred forty-one women who underwent thermal balloon ablation in our institution initially had their charts reviewed for demographics, procedure data, clinical history, and follow-up. Thereafter, a telephone interview was conducted to assess postprocedural menstrual pattern, quality of life, and patient satisfaction. Data were compared with the use of appropriate tests for categoric or continuous variables and logistic regression. RESULTS The median follow-up time was 18 months, and a telephone interview was obtained for 119 of 141 patients. A reduction in days per cycle (9.6 vs 3.1 days, P<.0001) and in pads per day (12.8 vs 2.5 pads/d, P<.0001) and an improvement in self-reported quality of life scores (2.8 vs 9.0, P<.0001) were observed after thermal balloon ablation. Hysterectomy was required in 21 of 141 patients (15%). Assessment of the level of satisfaction showed that 96% of patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the procedure. No major complications or deaths were related to thermal balloon ablation. CONCLUSION Thermal balloon ablation is a safe and efficient method to treat abnormal uterine bleeding. It reduces the menstrual flow, improves the quality of life, and remarkably fulfills expectations in selected patients.
African decentralization : local actors, powers and accountability

The designations employed in UNRISD publications, which are in conformity with United Nations practice, and the presentation of material therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNRISD concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The responsibility for opinions expressed rests solely with the author(s), and publication does not constitute endorsement by UNRISD. Contents Acronyms ii Defining Decentralization ii Acknowledgements iii Foreword iv Summary/Résumé/Resumen v Summary v Résumé vi Resumen vii
Physiological performance predictors in mountain bike multi-stage races.

BACKGROUND This study set out to identify physiological variables that may predict performance in The Cape Epic, an 8-day multi-stage mountain bike (MTB) race held annually in South Africa. METHODS Twenty-four amateur riders underwent VO2max testing within the 8 weeks prior to the event. Blood lactate measurements were taken to determine the power output corresponding to a fixed lactate concentration of 2 (LT2) and 4 mmol/L (OBLA) during the incremental test. Total race time was selected as dependent variable. RESULTS Absolute power output at LT2 (POLT2) had the strongest correlation (r=-0.80; CI: -0.91 to -0.59) with total race time. In general, absolute physiological variables, compared with relative values, correlated more favorably with total race time, suggesting that body mass may be of lesser importance in these longer events. Relative correlations were stronger when normalized to an exponent of 0.79. The correlations for VO2max and end maximal lactate with total race time were negligible (r=-0.14, CI: -0.51 to 0.28); r=0.03, CI: -0.32 to 0.43). CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study emphasize the importance of a well-developed aerobic system in multi-day MTB stage races and that riders should focus on developing a high sustainable sub maximal power output in order to complete the race in the shortest possible time.
The maternal genetic history of the Angolan Namib Desert: a key region for understanding the peopling of southern Africa

Southern Angola is a poorly studied region, inhabited by populations that have been associated with different migratory movements into southern Africa. Besides the long-standing presence of indigenous Kx’a-speaking foragers and the more recent arrival of Bantu-speaking pastoralists, ethnographic and linguistic studies have suggested that other pre-Bantu communities were also present in the Namib desert, including peripatetic groups like the Kwepe (formerly Kwadi speakers), Twa and Kwisi. Here we evaluate previous peopling hypotheses by analyzing the relationships between seven groups from the Namib desert (Kuvale, Himba, Tjimba, Kwisi, Twa, Kwepe) and Kunene Province (! Xun), based on newly collected linguistic data and 295 complete mtDNA genomes. We found that: i) all groups from the Namib desert have genealogically-consistent matriclanic systems that had a strong impact on their maternal genetic structure by enhancing genetic drift and population differentiation; ii) the dominant pastoral groups represented by the Kuvale and Himba were part of a Bantu proto-population that also included the ancestors of present-day Damara and Herero peoples from Namibia; iii) Tjimba are closely related to the Himba; iv) the Kwepe, Twa and Kwisi have a divergent Bantu-related mtDNA profile and probably stem from a single population that does not show clear signs of being a pre-Bantu indigenous group. Taken together, our results suggest that the maternal genetic structure of the different groups from the Namib desert is largely derived from endogamous Bantu peoples, and that their social stratification and different subsistence patterns are not indicative of remnant groups, but reflect Bantu-internal variation and ethnogenesis.
Towards an integrated in vitro strategy for estrogenicity testing

In order to define an in vitro integrated testing strategy (ITS) for estrogenicity, a set of 23 reference compounds representing diverse chemical classes were tested in a series of in vitro assays including proliferation and reporter gene assays. Outcomes of these assays were combined with published results for estrogen receptor (ER) binding assays and the OECD validated BG1Luc ER transcriptional activation (TA) assay and compared with the outcomes of the in vivo uterotrophic assay to investigate which assays most accurately predict the in vivo uterotrophic effect and to identify discrepancies between the in vitro assays and the in vivo uterotrophic assay. All in vitro assays used revealed a reasonable to good correlation (R2 = 0.62–0.87) with the in vivo uterotrophic assay but the combination of the yeast estrogen bioassay with the U2OS ERα‐CALUX assay seems most promising for an ITS for in vitro estrogenicity testing. The main outliers identified when correlating data from the different in vitro assays and the in vivo uterotrophic assay were 4‐hydroxytamoxifen, testosterone and to a lesser extent apigenin, tamoxifen and kepone. Based on the modes of action possibly underlying these discrepancies it becomes evident that to further improve the ITS and ultimately replace animal testing for (anti‐)estrogenic effects, the selected bioassays have to be combined with other types of in vitro assays, including for instance in vitro models for digestion, bioavailability and metabolism of the compounds under investigation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Distributing Electric Vehicles to the Right Charging Queues

As one of the promising initiatives for environmental preservation, electric vehicles (EVs) have been deploying in many countries. However, the limited drivable range of EV usually necessitates mid-way re-charging for long-distance journey, which is one of the most concerning issues in EV driving. Given limited public charging resources, EV drivers easily suffer from serious “range anxiety”, in particular when the queuing time at the charging station is long. Therefore, it is important to distribute the EV flows to the right charging stations for recharging, while at the same time, to minimize the overall journey time. In this paper, such an issue is formulated as an optimization problem and solved by a dedicated flow distribution algorithm (FDA). The practical usage of the design is demonstrated by extensive simulations upon the eastern Massachusetts highway network.
Facade Mother Factory for Correspondence of Customer’s Mother Factory System

The mother factory system is said to have broadly diffused the system of international division of labor used by Japanese manufacturers. However, is that truly the case? This paper provides an example of a supplier having a “facade mother factory” to respond to the demands of assembly manufacturer customers. This facade mother factory was not “a unit that continuously supports overseas factories,” as defined in prior studies. Instead, it was rather a “mother factory” needed as a facade to provide technical support services for customers, who happened to be Japanese companies.
Surprise Questions for Survival Prediction in Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND Predicting the short-term survival in cancer patients is an important issue for patients, family, and oncologists. Although the prognostic accuracy of the surprise question has value in 1-year mortality for cancer patients, the prognostic value for short-term survival has not been formally assessed. The primary aim of the present study was to assess the prognostic value of the surprise question for 7-day and 30-day survival in patients with advanced cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS The present multicenter prospective cohort study was conducted in Japan from September 2012 through April 2014, involving 16 palliative care units, 19 hospital-based palliative care teams, and 23 home-based palliative care services. RESULTS We recruited 2,425 patients and included 2,361 for analysis: 912 from hospital-based palliative care teams, 895 from hospital palliative care units, and 554 from home-based palliative care services. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the 7-day survival surprise question were 84.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 80.7%-88.0%), 68.0% (95% CI, 67.3%-68.5%), 30.3% (95% CI, 28.9%-31.5%), and 96.4% (95% CI, 95.5%-97.2%), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for the 30-day surprise question were 95.6% (95% CI, 94.4%-96.6%), 37.0% (95% CI, 35.9%-37.9%), 57.6% (95% CI, 56.8%-58.2%), and 90.4% (95% CI, 87.7%-92.6%), respectively. CONCLUSION Surprise questions are useful for screening patients for short survival. However, the high false-positive rates do not allow clinicians to provide definitive prognosis prediction. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE The findings of this study indicate that clinicians can screen patients for 7- or 30-day survival using surprise questions with 90% or more sensitivity. Clinicians cannot provide accurate prognosis estimation, and all patients will not always die within the defined periods. The screened patients can be regarded as the subjects to be prepared for approaching death, and proactive discussion would be useful for such patients.
Forced expiratory flows’ contribution to lung function interpretation in schoolchildren

Forced expiratory flow (FEF) at low lung volumes are supposed to be better at detecting lung-function impairment in asthmatic children than a forced volume. The aim of this study was to examine whether FEF results could modify the interpretation of baseline and post-bronchodilator spirometry in asthmatic schoolchildren in whom forced expiratory volumes are within the normal range. Spirometry, with post-bronchodilator vital capacity within 10% of that of baseline in healthy and asthmatic children, was recorded prospectively. We defined abnormal baseline values expressed as z-scores <-1.645, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) reversibility as a baseline increase >12%, FEF reversibility as an increase larger than the 2.5th percentile of post-bronchodilator changes in healthy children. Among 66 healthy and 50 asthmatic schoolchildren, only two (1.7%) children with normal vital capacity and no airways obstruction had abnormal baseline forced expiratory flow at 25–75% of forced vital capacity (FEF25–75%). After bronchodilation, among the 45 asthmatic children without FEV1 reversibility, 5 (11.1%) had an FEF25–75% increase that exceeded the reference interval. Isolated abnormal baseline values or significant post-bronchodilator changes in FEF are rare situations in asthmatic schoolchildren with good spirometry quality. Forced expiratory flows don’t add useful information over forced expiratory volumes and their ratio in schoolchildren http://ow.ly/zo5MA
Is the non‐verbal behavioural emotion‐processing profile of bipolar disorder impaired? A critical review

Growing evidence suggests that patients with bipolar disorder (BD) are impaired in their ability to process non‐verbal emotion, although few comprehensive reviews of the behavioural literature exist, and there has been little consideration of methodological issues that may account for discrepant empirical findings. This review examines the behavioural facial, prosodic and multimodal processing literature in BD and discusses methodological issues in the context of this evidence.
An inverse square root filter for robust indoor/outdoor magneto-visual-inertial odometry

We explore a new sensor suite to provide a precise and robust navigation information, primarily intended for pedestrian localisation. We use an IMU sensor augmented with an array of magnetometers, called MIMU (for Magneto-Inertial measurement Unit) hereafter, and a single central camera as the vision sensor. The MIMU sensor has been shown in previous work to significantly improve the inertial dead-reckoning for pedestrian, provided we can assume a stationary and non-uniform magnetic environment. Such conditions are encountered in particular in indoor environment, where visual methods can be challenged by textureless or low-light areas. Alternatively, visual methods are useful in outdoor trajectories, where MIMU often fails because of a uniform magnetic field. We build a fusion estimator based on an inverse square-root filter fed with the raw measurement from magnetometers, accelerometers, gyrometers and visual features extracted and tracked in the video. Real-data experiments show the benefits of the fusion : on the one hand, the added information from the MIMU allows to complement the vision/inertial system in case where the vision does not provide useful information during an extended period of time; on the other hand, vision does extend the operational domain of the navigation system compared to a pure MIMU solution, in particular for outdoor sections of the trajectory.
Arbiter of science: Institutionalization and status effects in FDA drug review 1990–2004

In this article the author proposes that firm status has a significant effect on the regulatory evaluation process. Regulators rely on external signals of quality such as status to resolve uncertainty, and the tendency to be infused with ‘value beyond the technical requirements of the task at hand’ (Selznick, 1957) causes status positions in institutionalized domains to be particularly salient. Using review times for 839 New Drug Applications approved by the Food and Drug Administration between 1990 and 2004, the author finds that firms with higher status in the scientific knowledge domain receive faster approval for their drugs. The effect of status strengthened when products address underserved disease areas, and when following a major product withdrawal in the industry. Status in areas unrelated to the therapy category had a stronger effect on approval speed than therapy-specific status, implying that status effects are driven by values in addition to technical concerns.