Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of a Prediction Equation for Vertical Power in Masters Level Basketball Athletes

International Journal of Exercise Science 7(2) : 119-127, 2014. Performance factors such as power, agility, and speed are important in sport-based competition for older individuals. Prediction models that assess these factors in masters level competitors are limited. The purpose of this study was to examine physical field measures of agility and speed and their ability to predict vertical power (VP) among basketball masters athletes (MA). Thirtyeight competitive MA from a Midwest Senior Olympic basketball tournament performed vertical jump, 20-yard dash (20-D), 40-yard dash (40-D), and T-test (TT) assessments. Regression analysis revealed a significant relationship (p = .002) using TT and 20-D to predict VP (R2 = .37). Similar results were observed when replacing the 20-D with the 40-D (R2 = .34; p = .003). Males and females were analyzed independently. Agility and speed measures significantly predicted VP in males (R2 = .59; p = .005) and females (R2 = .43; p = .044). Speed and agility are important factors in the performance of vertical jump (VJ). Results indicate any of the speed distances tested may be used to predict VP among this population, but it is recommended that the 20-D be used due to less demand, space, and time requirements. Utilizing speed and agility may help to minimize physical stress and reduce impact related injury, while improving overall VP performance in masters basketball players. Results of this study suggest need for experimental research to verify the cause and effect relationship between speed, agility, and VP.
Effect of Intratympanic Dexamethasone in Intractable Unilateral Meniere ’ s Disease

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of Intratympanic dexamethasone in controlling vertigo and sensor neural hearing loss in intractable Meniere’s disease. Methods: 30 patients with intractable Meniere’s disease were treated with intratympanic dexamethasone injections. Post treatment pure tone audiograms and dizziness scores were compared with the pretreatment audiogram and dizziness scores respectively. Results: Improvement in mean vertigo score was noticed from 91.58 (range 80 -100) (pretreatment) to 49.295 (p=0.351) at 6 months and to 60.4 (p= 0.974) at the end of 2 years after intratympanic injection. 9 (40.90%) and 5 (25%) patients were found to be free of vertigo at the end of 06 months and 2 years respectively. None of the patients showed any significant improvement in hearing (>10dB) at the end of 2 years of follow-ups. Only one patient was found with a small central perforation at the end of 1 month of treatment. Conclusion: Intratympanic steroid is a safe and an effective method of treating intractable Meniere’s disease. Although improvement in vertigo was more pronounced in the short term, 25% of the patients were detected free of vertigo at the end of 2 years. No significant improvement in hearing was noticed after 2 years of treatment. ]
The Multi-Processor Scheduling Problem in Phylogenetic

Advances in wet-lab sequencing techniques allow for sequencing between 100 genomes up to 1000 full transcriptomes of species whose evolutionary relationships shall be disentangled by means of phylogenetic analyses. Likelihoodbased evolutionary models allow for partitioning such broad phylogenomic datasets, for instance into gene regions, for which likelihood model parameters (except for the tree itself) can be estimated independently. Present day phylogenomic datasets are typically split up into 1000-10,000 distinct partitions. While the likelihood on such datasets needs to be computed in parallel because of the high memory requirements, it has not yet been assessed how to optimally distribute partitions and/or alignment sites to processors, in particular when the number of cores is significantly smaller than the number of partitions. We find that, by distributing partitions (of varying lengths) monolithically to processors, the induced load distribution problem essentially corresponds to the well-known multiprocessor scheduling problem. By implementing the simple Longest Processing Time (LPT) heuristics in the PThreads and MPI version of RAxML-Light, we were able to accelerate run times by up to one order of magnitude. Other heuristics for multiprocessor scheduling such as improved MultiFit, improved Zero-One, or the Three Phase approach did not yield notable performance improvements. Keywords-scheduling; RAxML-Light; phylogenetics;
Will I do as well on the final exam as I expect? An examination of students' expectations

Immediately prior to an exam, it is common to hear students commenting on whether they anticipate doing as well on the exam as they expect (or, in other words, whether they anticipate performing as well on the exam as the standard at which they believe they should be performing). These anticipations have received little past research attention. In this study, students' performance anticipations are related to their past exam performances in the course, their performance expectations, several issues hypothesized to affect academic performance, and their actual performance on the final exam and for the course. The results, which were mixed, are discussed.
Plant tissue culture of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni): A review

Plant tissue culture is a technique used for in vitro regeneration of plants. It relies on maintaining plant cells in aseptic conditions on a suitable nutrient medium. The culture can be sustained as a mass of undifferentiated cells for an extended period of time or regenerated into whole plants. Plant tissue culture techniques are also central to innovative areas of applied plant science, including plant biotechnology and agriculture. This review paper outlines the work done on Stevia rebaudiana, a herbaceous perennial plant of the Asteraceae family. It is gaining lot of importance for the production of diterpene glycosides which are non-nutritive, non-toxic, high-potency sweeteners, and may substitute sucrose as well as other synthetic sweeteners, being 300 times sweeter than sucrose. The taxonomy, botanical description of the plant, its distribution and uses, are discussed in this paper. Various tissue culture methods to get mass propagation of S. rebaudiana are reviewed. Key words: Stevia rebaudiana, asteraceae, tissue culture.
First-Principles Investigation of Density of States and Electron Density in Wurtzite In0.5Ga0.5 N Alloys with GGA-PBEsol Method

In present work, we have calculated the electronic properties including density of states and electron density for GaN, InN and InxGa1-xN in wurtzite phase for x=0.5. The study is based on density functional theory with full potential linearized augmented plane wave method by generalized gradient approximation for calculating electronic properties. In this report we concluded that InxGa1-xN band gap, which would be decreased with increasing in concentration and GaN is very sensitive on in content.
Are overhead costs strictly proportional to activity ? Evidence from hospital service departments *

Using cross-sectional data from hospitals in Washington State, we test whether overhead costs are proportional to overhead activities. This assumption is at the heart of nearly all cost accounting systems, which implicitly assume that marginal cost is equal to average cost. Empirically, the proportionality hypothesis can be rejected for most of the overhead accounts. On average across the accounts, the average cost per unit of activity overstates marginal costs by about 40% and in some departments by over 100%. Thus, the average cost per activity should be used with a great deal of caution in decisions.
Cancer in pregnant women Editing :

Definition . 63 Epidemiology . 63 General principles of management . 63 Safety of diagnostic procedures . 63 Safety of therapeutic management . 64 Surgical treatment . 64 Use of chemotherapy in pregnant women . 64 The use of radiotherapy in pregnant women . 66 Treatment of the most common cancers in pregnant women . 67 Breast cancer . 67 Cervical cancer . 69 Malignant ovarian neoplasms . 70 Lymphomas . 71 Skin melanoma . 72 Colorectal cancer (CRC) . 73 Gastric cancer . 74 Pancreatic cancer . 74 Lung cancer . 74 Thyroid cancer . 74 Acute and chronic myeloproliferative diseases (MPDs) . 75 Acute leukaemias . 75 Chronic myeloproliferative diseases . 75 Chronic myelogenous leukaemia . 75 Essential thrombocytopaemia . 76 Polycythaemia vera . 76 Supportive care for cancer treatment in pregnant patients . 76 White blood cell growth factors . 76 Red blood cell growth factors . 76 Antiemetic treatment . 76 Corticosteroids . 77 Bisphosphonates . 77 Antibiotics . 77 References . 77
Attitudes towards authorities and aircraft noise annoyance : Sensitivity analyses on the relationship between non-acoustical factors and annoyance

Numerous studies have shown correlations between non-acoustical factors and noise annoyance. Particularly, sourceand authority-related attitudes have been identified as important modifiers of annoyance. Some authors have discussed non-acoustical factors not just in terms of confounding variables need for adjustment in exposure-response models but as variables that might help to relief residents from adverse noise effects. In order to clarify the potential of non-acoustical factors to reduce annoyance sensitivity analyses of attitudinal and annoyance data from the NORAH study were carried out. Considerable differences in exposure-response curves for aircraft noise annoyance were found depending on 'trust in authorities', ‘perceived procedural fairness’ and 'expectations regarding the air traffic's impacts'. Taken the example of 'trust in authorities', different hypothesised causal directions between annoyance and attitudes ('trust in authorities' contributes to the prediction of annoyance and vice versa) were analysed using longitudinal data of the NORAH study. The relationship between trust and annoyance seems to be reciprocal with changing strength of one of the two causal directions depending on whether there is a change in noise exposure (e.g. airport expansion) or not.
The Determinants Factors of Balance of Payments: An Investigation from Sudan through the Period 1980-2016

This paper investigates the determinants of Sudan balance of payments using annual data on balance of payments (BOP), foreign debt (ED), exchange rate (EX), inflation (INF), gross domestic product (GDP) during the period (1980 - 2016). The paper elaborates the problem regarding the impact of foreign debt on the balance of payments. The paper built on the fundamental assumption that the foreign debt linked to a positive relationship with the balance of payments by running VECM Approach. Results of the study indicate that there is a direct correlation between the balance of payments and foreign debt, and an inverse relationship between the balance of payments and all of the inflation, gross domestic product and exchange rate during the forementioned period. The paper recommends that Sudan should not totally dependes on foreign aid in solving its economic problems which entails to transfer big amount of the national product to meet the commitments towards those foreign countries, the need for coordination between macroeconomic policies and domestic economic policies in order to increase output domestic product, economic policies are functioning to reduce the ratio of foreign debt and the reduction of inflation and bring about stability in the exchange rate which leads to improving the balance of payments to be adopted by Sudan.
The Effects of Personal and Occupational Risk Position on Musculoskeletal Disorders

1 Biostatistics MSC student, Biostatistics Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. 2Assistant Professor of Biostatistics, Biostatistics Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. 3General Practitioner, Worksite Follow-Up Unit, Occupational Health Center, Esfahan’s Mobarakeh Steel Company, Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran. 4Assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation department of Isfahan University of medical sciences
Mortality in the French cohort of nuclear workers

Populations of nuclear workers are particularly relevant to study health effects of protracted exposures to low doses at low dose-rates of ionizing radiation. In France, a cohort of nuclear workers employed by the Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives (CEA), AREVA Nuclear Cycle (AREVA NC), or Electricite de France (EDF), and badge-monitored for external radiation exposure, has been followed-up for several decades. Annual exposure to penetrating photons was reconstructed for each worker. Standardized mortality ratios were calculated using national mortality rates as the reference. Estimates of radiation dose-mortality associations were obtained using linear excess relative risk models. Mortality of 59 004 workers was followed-up between 1968 and 2004, for an average of 25 years. The mean cumulative photon Hp (10) dose was 18.4 mSv in the whole cohort (median value: 2.1 mSv) and 25.7 mSv among exposed workers. At the end of the follow-up, workers were 56 years old on average and 6310 workers had died. A strong healthy worker effect was observed. Estimated dose-risk relationships were consistent with those from other worker studies for all solid cancers and leukaemia excluding chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, but remained associated to a large uncertainty. This cohort is the most informative study ever conducted in France among nuclear workers.
Tracking the Origin of a Rabbit Haemorrhagic Virus 2 Outbreak in a Wild Rabbit Breeding Centre in Portugal; Epidemiological and Genetic Investigation

As key prey, the wild rabbit downsize constitutes a major drawback on the endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) re-introduction in the Iberia. Several captive breeding units mostly located in Alentejo, endeavour the wild rabbit repopulation of depleted areas assigned for the lynx re-introduction. Here we report an RHDV2 outbreak that occurred in early 2016 in a wild rabbit captive breeding unit located in Barrancos municipality. The estimated mortality rate between March and April 2016 was approximately 8.67%. Anatomopathologic examination was carried out for 13 victimized rabbits. Molecular characterization was based on the complete vp60 capsid gene. The 13 rabbit carcasses investigated showed typical macroscopic RHD lesions testing positive to RHDV2- RNA. Comparison of the vp60 nucleotide sequences obtained from two specimens with others publically available disclosed similarities below 98.22% with RHDV2 strains originated in the Iberia and Azores and revealed that the two identical strains from Barrancos-2016 contain six unique single synonymous nucleotide polymorphisms. In the phylogenetic analysis performed, the Barrancos-2016 strains clustered apart from other known strains, meaning they may represent new evolutionary RHDV2 lineages. No clear epidemiological link could be traced for this outbreak where the mortalities were lower compared with previous years. Yet, network analysis suggested a possible connection between the missing intermediates from which the strains from Barrancos 2013, 2014 and 2016 have derived. It is therefore possible that RHDV2 has circulated endemically in the region since 2012, with periodic epizootic occurrences. Still, six years after its emergence in wild rabbits, RHDV2 continues to pose difficulties to the establishment of natural wild rabbit populations that are crucial for the self-sustainability of the local ecosystems.
Une nouvelle approche des relations entre la gouvernance d'entreprise, la RSE et la performance financière

This paper explores the mutual links between corporate social responsibility (CSR), corporate governance (CG), and corporate financial performance (CFP). We aim to investigate the extent to which a firm’s internal CG structures may influence its CSR practices and the resulting impact on its financial performances. To take into account the mutual interactions between these variables, we propose a global model, based on the partial least squares path modelling (PLS-PM), using a sample of 486 large U.S. and Europeans firms for the period 2002–2011. Our results highlight a positive impact of corporate governance and financial variables on CSR. The main determinant of CSR is the governance under financial constraints (firm leverage mainly). Firms’ leverage allows them to obtain more financial resources and positively affects their CSR practices. This also verifies the hypothesis which states that the expected effect of CSR practices is a decrease in the risk perceived by investors and improvement of the financial performance of the firm, which leads banks to apply better conditions to firms’ loan contracts. The adoption of CSR principles is found to increase primarily the firm’s accounting performance and secondarily its market performance. However, in our model, we have a double effect. We underline the direct link between CG and financial performance and identify an indirect link between these two variables mediated by CSR. This second relationship, not explored in the literature, reinforces the impact of good CG on financial performance.
polymorphsims and smoking interactions associated with the risk of gastric cancer

Purpose: To analyze the relationship between the Leptin receptor (LEPR) gene polymorphisms (rs1137100 and rs1137101) and gastric cancer (GC) susceptibility. Besides, explore the interactions between smoking and LEPR polymorphisms (rs1137100 and rs1137101) in GC. Methods: Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to analyze the polymorphisms of rs1137100 and rs1137101 in 89 GC patients and 97 healthy controls. Gene-environment interaction was evaluated by crossover analysis. What’s more, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was utilized to distinguish the differences of the frequencies of genotypes. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used for assess the risk of GC. Results: Analysis of LEPR polymorphisms and GC risk showed that AA genotype and A allele of rs1137100 were significantly decreased the GC risk (P=0.036, OR=0.259, 95% CI=0.068-0.987; P=0.008, OR=0.493, 95% CI=0.291-0.833). No obvious correlation has existed between rs1137101 AA and GA genotypes and the risk of GC. But, rs1137101 A allele might reduce the GC risk (P=0.006, OR=0.446, 95% CI=0.248-0.802). Gene-environment interaction analysis denominated that rs1137100 GG and GA genotypes and smoking interaction increased the risk of GC (P=0.007, OR=10.947, 95% CI=1.313-91.251), and the same to GG and GA genotypes of rs1137101 (P=0.019, OR=9.143, 95% CI=1.02781.385). Conclusion: A allele of rs1137100 and A allele of rs1137101 might decrease the GC risk, respectively. Interactions between smoking and LEPR polymorphisms (rs1137100 and rs1137101) were positive with GC risk.
Elucidating determinants of aerosol composition through particle-type-based receptor modeling

Abstract. An aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ATOFMS) was deployed at a semi-rural site in southern Ontario to characterize the size and chemical composition of individual particles. Particle-type-based receptor modelling of these data was used to investigate the determinants of aerosol chemical composition in this region. Individual particles were classified into particle-types and positive matrix factorization (PMF) was applied to their temporal trends to separate and cross-apportion particle-types to factors. The extent of chemical processing for each factor was assessed by evaluating the internal and external mixing state of the characteristic particle-types. The nine factors identified helped to elucidate the coupled interactions of these determinants. Nitrate-laden dust was found to be the dominant type of locally emitted particles measured by ATOFMS. Several factors associated with aerosol transported to the site from intermediate local-to-regional distances were identified: the Organic factor was associated with a combustion source to the north-west; the ECOC Day factor was characterized by nearby local-to-regional carbonaceous emissions transported from the south-west during the daytime; and the Fireworks factor consisted of pyrotechnic particles from the Detroit region following holiday fireworks displays. Regional aerosol from farther emissions sources was reflected through three factors: two Biomass Burning factors and a highly chemically processed Long Range Transport factor. The Biomass Burning factors were separated by PMF due to differences in chemical processing which were in part elucidated by the passage of two thunderstorm gust fronts with different air mass histories. The remaining two factors, ECOC Night and Nitrate Background, represented the night-time partitioning of nitrate to pre-existing particles of different origins. The distinct meteorological conditions observed during this month-long study in the summer of 2007 provided a unique range of temporal variability, enabling the elucidation of the determinants of aerosol chemical composition, including source emissions, chemical processing, and transport, at the Canada-US border. This paper presents the first study to elucidate the coupled influences of these determinants on temporal variability in aerosol chemical composition using single particle-type-based receptor modelling.
Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Research and application is slowly and predictably moving from Task related fMRI to Resting state fMRI (rsf MRI). Task-based or stimulus-driven f MRI paradigms have been critical to our current understanding of brain function. Activity in the task based fMRI is based on relative changes of the BOLD signal from baseline during the performance of a task or in response to a stimulus. However, rsfMRI or functional connectivity MR imaging investigates synchronous activations between regions that are spatially distinct, occurring in the absence of a task or stimulus. These activities observed in multiple distinct regions are presumed to indicate functional connectivity within and between the highly organized neuroanatomical networks.
Frequency of knowledge of results and motor learning in persons with Alzheimer's

Objective: In occupational therapy, the teaching-learning process, which often involves motor learning, is a primary focus of practice. In order to facilitate the optimal learning experience for each client, it is vital for the occupational therapist to have a clear understanding of motor learning variables. Occupational therapists frequently work with older patients of altered cognitive ability, such as Alzheimer’s. This study evaluated the motor learning process, particularly the frequency of KR, in a population affected with Alzheimer’s disease. Methods: Participants included 17 persons with Alzheimer’s disease and 17 ageand education level-matched well elderly individuals. The task involved turning a knob that controls the height of a bar on a computer screen to match the height of a target bar. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups; a 100% feedback or 33% feedback group in the acquisition phase. For hypothesis one, a 2 x 2 x 2 (frequency of feedback, group, trial) analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures on the last factor was performed with the three dependent variables. For hypothesis two, a 2 x 2 (group x trial) ANOVA with repeated measures on the last factor was performed with the three dependent variables. Results: This study indicated that individuals with Alzheimer’s performed the fine motor task with greater error than their respective non-affected population. Also, the study indicated that learning occurred among both groups across trials. The study suggests some similarities between the population with Alzheimer’s and previous studies with normal populations in regards to generalizing the information in the transfer phase.