Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neuromuscular and blood lactate responses to squat power training with different rest intervals between sets.

Studies investigating the effect of rest interval length (RI) between sets on neuromuscular performance and metabolic response during power training are scarce. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare maximal power output, muscular activity and blood lactate concentration following 1, 2 or 3 minutes RI between sets during a squat power training protocol. Twelve resistance-trained men (22.7 ± 3.2 years; 1.79 ± 0.08 cm; 81.8 ± 11.3 kg) performed 6 sets of 6 repetitions of squat exercise at 60% of their 1 repetition maximum. Peak and average power were obtained for each repetition and set using a linear position transducer. Muscular activity and blood lactate were measured pre and post-exercise session. There was no significant difference between RI on peak power and average power. However, peak power decreased 5.6%, 1.9%, and 5.9% after 6 sets using 1, 2 and 3 minutes of RI, respectively. Average power also decreased 10.5% (1 min), 2.6% (2 min), and 4.3% (3 min) after 6 sets. Blood lactate increased similarly during the three training sessions (1-min: 5.5 mMol, 2-min: 4.3 mMol, and 3-min: 4.0 mMol) and no significant changes were observed in the muscle activity after multiple sets, independent of RI length (pooled ES for 1-min: 0.47, 2-min: 0.65, and 3-min: 1.39). From a practical point of view, the results suggest that 1 to 2 minute of RI between sets during squat exercise may be sufficient to recover power output in a designed power training protocol. However, if training duration is malleable, we recommend 2 min of RI for optimal recovery and power output maintenance during the subsequent exercise sets. Key pointsThis study demonstrates that 1 minute of RI between sets is sufficient to maintain maximal power output during multiple sets of a power-based exercise when it is composed of few repetitions and the sets are not performed until failure. Therefore, a short RI should be considered when designing training programs for the development of muscular power.Short RI may be more practical for strength coaches under time constraints (i.e. 1 minute of RI required only 7 minutes to complete an exercise session, while with 2 minutes take 12 minutes, and 17 minutes with 3 minutes of RI). Future research is needed to examine the longitudinal effects of interval rest in training programs designed for the development of muscular power.
An ecological perspective on bacterial biodiversity

Bacteria may be one of the most abundant and species–rich groups of organisms, and they mediate many critical ecosystem processes. Despite the ecological importance of bacteria, past practical and theoretical constraints have limited our ability to document patterns of bacterial diversity and to understand the processes that determine these patterns. However, recent advances in molecular techniques that allow more thorough detection of bacteria in nature have made it possible to examine such patterns and processes. Here, we review recent studies of the distribution of free–living bacterial diversity and compare our current understanding with what is known about patterns in plant and animal diversity. From these recent studies a preliminary picture is emerging: bacterial diversity may exhibit regular patterns, and in some cases these patterns may be qualitatively similar to those observed for plants and animals.
Validating a 3-Point Prediction Rule for Surgical Site Infection after Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Background. Surgical site infection (SSI) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is an increasing healthcare problem. Investigators from Australia proposed a new, 3-point scale that assesses SSI risk on the basis of diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and body mass index. Objective. To validate the Australian Clinical Risk Index among patients undergoing CABG surgery in the United States. Design and Setting. Nested case-control study involving patients undergoing CABG surgery at 9 hospitals during 1991-2002. Patients. Case patients were those who developed SSIs after CABG surgery. Control subjects were matched to case patients on the basis of hospital, age, and procedure date. Methods. Odds ratios (ORs) for SSIs were calculated for the comparison of case patients with control subjects for all risk categories determined using the Australian Clinical Risk Index and National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System (NNIS) risk index. An adjusted area under the curve was used to compare predictive values among risk indices. Results. Four hundred sixty patients were studied, including 269 patients with SSI and 191 control subjects. NNIS risk group 2 was associated with increased rate of SSI (OR, 1.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19-2.67). No patient had an NNIS risk index of 3. The remaining NNIS categories were not predictive of infection. In contrast, an increase in Australian Clinical Risk Index was associated with an increase in risk of SSI (category 2: OR, 2.39 [95% CI, 1.33-4.29]; category 3: OR, 4.46 [95% CI, 1.83-10.85]). Conclusions. The NNIS risk index predicts the risk of SSI associated with many procedures, but it has limited use in predicting the risk of SSI after CABG surgery. The new Australian Clinical Risk Index stratified patients into discrete groups associated with increased risk of SSI. Data from our study support the use of this new risk index in the US population.
The timing of patching treatment and a child’s wellbeing

Bullying and eye patching The psychological impact that patching treatment for amblyopia might have on children and their families was highlighted in an influential review of amblyopia screening.1 A recent randomised trial investigating the efficacy of patching for amblyopia has reported that 4 year old and 5 year old children were significantly more upset by receiving patching and glasses than by receiving glasses only, as were the parents of the 4 year olds undergoing treatment, suggesting that patching treatment can be associated with some short term distress for the child and the family.2 However, most children in the study were reported as being happy and had normal behavioural scores. We have recently reported results from a birth cohort study suggesting that longer term psychosocial sequelae may be associated with patching treatment (the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, ALSPAC3). A history of patching treatment and wearing glasses were both independent risk factors for children reporting that they had been bullied in the past at age 8.4 Repeated bullying victimisation is consistently associated with physical and emotional problems for the victims and may have long term adverse consequences.5, …
A Triple-Blinded Randomized Trial Comparing the Hemostatic Effects of Large-Dose 10% Hydroxyethyl Starch 264/0.45 Versus 5% Albumin During Major Reconstructive Surgery

In Canada, hydroxyethyl starch 264/0.45 (HES 264/0.45; molar weight 264 kDa, molar substitution 0.45) has largely replaced albumin as the colloidal fluid of choice for perioperative intravascular volume expansion. The maximum recommended dose of HES 264/0.45 is 28 mL/kg; however, there are no clinical data supporting this limit. In this study we compared the hemostatic effects of HES 264/0.45 versus 5% albumin in doses up to 45 mL/kg over 24 h during major reconstructive head and neck surgery. Fifty patients were randomized to receive HES 264/0.45 or 5% human albumin from the induction of anesthesia until 24 h thereafter. Both albumin and HES 264/0.45 effectively maintained physiologic variables in the perioperative and postoperative periods. The partial thromboplastin time and international normalized ratio were significantly increased in the HES 264/0.45 group compared with the albumin group after infusion of 30 mL/kg and 45 mL/kg (P < 0.05). Factor VIII activity and von Willebrand factor level were significantly reduced in the HES 264/0.45 group compared with the albumin group after infusion of 15 mL/kg, 30 mL/kg, and 45 mL/kg (P < 0.05). Significantly more subjects in the HES 264/0.45 group received allogeneic red blood cell transfusions (P < 0.02). We conclude that HES 264/0.45 infusions >30 mL/kg over 24 h impair coagulation to a greater extent than albumin, possibly leading to more allogeneic transfusions.
Differential Steroidogenic Responses of Ovine Luteal Cells to Ovine Luteinizing Hormone and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin 1

Abstract Experiments were conducted in vitro on ovine small luteal cells to evaluate their steroidogenic response to ovine luteinizing hormone (oLH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administered continuously throughout the experimental period or as a 15-min pulse. Both oLH and hCG stimulated a significant increase in progesterone secretion (P < 0.001) by small luteal cells. Human chorionic gonadotropin administered continuously or as a pulse maintained progesterone secretion at 40-55% of experimental maximum at least 6 hr while oLH-stimulated progesterone secretion declined to basal levels by 4 hr after a 15-min pulse or declined to 25% of the experimental maximum within 6 hr under constant stimulation. The responses of small luteal cells to oLH and hCG were found to differ (P < 0.001). The sustained progesterone secretion of luteal cells in response to a pulse of hCG may be due to longer residence of occupied receptor complex on the cell membrane. In contrast, the decline in oLH stimulated progesterone secretion, even when hormone is continuously present in the medium, may be related to a rapid internalization of receptor-hormone complexes and down-regulation of receptors.
Neurofibromatosis type 1 growth charts.

Growth abnormalities such as macrocephaly and short stature have been described and are considered a consistent finding in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), one of the most common autosomal dominant disorders in man. We present here a clinical study on the growth profile of a sample of NF1 patients collected through a population-based registry that covers three contiguous regions of North-East Italy (NEI-NF Registry). Auxometric traits of 528 NF1 patients have been measured with the aim of drawing growth charts for height, weight, and head circumference (OFC). Height velocity charts were based on a subset of 143 children who underwent multiple measurements. No differences in height were apparent between NF1 and normal subjects up to age 7 (girls) and 12 (boys) years; subsequently, the 50th centile of NF1 subjects tends to overlap with the 25th centile of normal subjects, and the 3rd centile is much lower in NF1 subjects than in normal subjects, mainly during adolescence. The negatively skewed distribution of height seems to indicate that height growth impairment affects only a proportion of NF1 subjects; height growth impairment does not seem related to disease severity. As for weight, our data suggest that slight overweight is a characteristic of adult NF1 subjects (mainly among males), independent of disease severity. Height growth velocity is normal during childhood for both sexes, whereas the pubertal spurt is slightly anticipated and reduced in NF1 boys but not in girls. Our data confirm previous observations that macrocrania affects most NF1 subjects; the shape of the head growth curve is similar in NF1 and normal girls, whereas NF1 boys present an OFC pubertal growth spurt much more pronounced and delayed than normal boys. The disproportion between OFC and height seems to be related to disease severity in boys but not in girls. Growth charts presented here can be useful in neurofibromatosis clinics for the identification of the effects of secondary growth disorders, for growth prognosis, and for the evaluation of the effects of a therapy such as GH therapy after radiotherapy for optic glioma.
Etomidate Alters Calcium Mobilization Induced by Angiotensin II in Rat Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells

Abstract: Etomidate is widely used for induction of anesthesia in the hemodynamically compromised patient, because of its moderate direct effect on arterial vasomotoricity and cardiac function, but its effect on blood pressure regulatory systems is not known. We studied the effect of etomidate (10−8 to 10−4 mol.L−1) on Ca++ mobilization elicited by angiotensin II (Ang II) in cultured aortic smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from 6-week-old Wistar Kyoto rats. Intracellular Ca++ (Cai++) variation was assessed in Fura 2-loaded VSMC, using fluorescent imaging microscopy. Ang II (10−6 mol.L−1)-induced transient Cai++ mobilization from internal stores was assessed in the absence of external Ca++. Ca++ influx was assessed upon reintroduction of external Ca++ (10−3 mol.L−1). Etomidate moderately decreased both the amplitude (etomidate 10−4 mol.L−1: 68% of control value, P < 0.001) and the slope of Cai++ increase (56% of control, P < 0.001) from internal stores induced by Ang II. PD2 values (PD2 = −log(EC50)) for amplitude and slope were 6.4 ± 0.7 and 6.0 ± 0.3, respectively. Ang II-elicited Ca++ influx was also significantly decreased (45% of control, P < 0.001; PD2 = 5.5 ± 0.3). Etomidate alters the Ca++ mobilization elicited by Ang II in rat aortic VSMC, suggesting that the vascular response to Ang II may be altered during etomidate anesthesia. However, this effect was observed at high concentration of etomidate, and may be limited when low doses of etomidate are used.
Design and experimental evaluation of a dynamically balanced redundant planar 4-RRR parallel manipulator

Shaking forces and shaking moments in high-speed parallel manipulators are a significant cause of base vibrations. These vibrations can be eliminated by designing the manipulator to be shaking-force balanced and shaking-moment balanced. In this article an approach for the design and evaluation of high-speed dynamically balanced parallel manipulators is presented and applied to a comparative experimental investigation of a balanced and unbalanced DUAL-V planar 4-RRR parallel manipulator. For precise simulation of the manipulator motion, the inverse dynamic model of the manipulator is derived and validated. Experiments show that the balanced manipulator has up to 97% lower shaking forces and up to a 96% lower shaking moment. For small inaccuracies of the counter-masses or for a small unbalanced payload on the platform, base vibrations may be considerable for high-speed manipulation, however their values remain significantly low as compared to the unbalanced manipulator. For the balanced manipulator the actuator torques are about 1.6 times higher and the bearing forces are about 71% lower as compared to the unbalanced manipulator.
T Cells Are Required for Orthodontic Tooth Movement

The immune system plays a pivotal role during bone remodeling process. Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) induces local inflammation in periodontium, but whether systemic immune response is involved in OTM remains unknown. In this study, we show that tooth movement distance was significantly reduced in T-cell–deficient immunocompromised mice compared with wild-type (WT) mice. Intravenous infusion of allogeneic T cells to the immunocompromised mice rescued the OTM distance. Correspondingly, increased numbers of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)–positive osteoclasts were detected around the alveolar bone after OTM in WT mice but were barely detected in immunocompromised mice. Moreover, intravenous infusion of T cells rescued the number of TRAP-positive osteoclasts in the OTM area of the immunocompromised mice, thus suggesting T cells are required for OTM. We then reveal that OTM induced a significant elevation of type 1 T helper cell (Th1) cytokines tumor necrosis factor–α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) around periodontal tissue in WT but not in immunocompromised mice. Infusion of T cells could increase the levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ in periodontal tissues of immunocompromised mice. More interestingly, intraperitoneal injection of TNF-α inhibitor etanercept significantly reduced the distance of OTM in T-cell–infused immunocompromised mice. In summary, this study demonstrates a previously unrecognized mechanism that T cells are required for OTM depending on Th1-associated cytokines.
Optic disc coloboma in two nigerian siblings: Case report and review of literature

We report two cases of bilateral asymmetric optic disc coloboma (ODC) in siblings. The index patient is a 9-year-old Nigerian girl with severe cognitive deficit who presented with a poor vision of 3 years' duration. She had a history of childhood febrile convulsions and delayed developmental milestones. Her visual acuity could not be assessed because she had a cognitive deficit and expressive aphasia. Ocular examination revealed a very large excavated right optic disc with only a strip of remnant neuro-retinal rim superiorly, and a smaller left optic disc with inferior disc excavation, superior wedge of the pink neuro-retinal rim as well as a temporal optic disc pit. No systemic features of syndromes associated with ODCs and intellectual disability were present in both patients. The younger sibling an 8-year-old girl later presented to the eye clinic with a 5-month history of poor vision in the left eye. Ocular examination revealed visual acuity of 6/6 in the right eye and counting fingers in the left eye. Dilated binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy revealed a right large excavated colobomatous disc and a left small disc with infero-temporal disc coloboma.
Registration of Radar and Optical Satellite Images Using Multiscale Filter Technique and Information Measure

Since a spectacular series of missions in the context of the Earth Observing System (EOS) by NASA beginning from the late 1990’s, the significance of the satellite remote sensing has been recognized all over the world (Kafatos & Qu, 2007; Kaufman et al., 1998). In particular, the applications on hazard mitigation and resource exploration have been widely regarded as one of basic approaches over the past years (e.g., Barrett et al., 1991; Chuvieco, 2008; Fu et al., 2004; Ninomiya et al., 2005; 2006; Realmuto, 2000; Sato et al., 2006; Teeuw, 2007; Urai et al., 2007). In general, remote sensing, from different points of view, includes many branches, or exactly speaking many application fields, such as environmental and ecological remote sensing, geological remote sensing, and military remote sensing. In this chapter, we focus our research on geological applications. However, the proposed algorithms and approaches might be applicable to every fields associated with image registration processing. Although remotely sensed optical images from satellite sensors can meet most needs in the practical applications, considerable weather-dependence limits its functional deployment under some circumstances. For instance, during the period of the devastating Ms 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake in the summer of 2008 (Fu et al., 2009), the most optical images from ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) (Yamaguchi et al., 1998) sensors on the NASA’s Terra satellite can hardly be used to do some refined applications just because of heavy clouds contaminated. However, SAR (Synthetic Aperture RADAR) images are not influenced by climate and time. In practical applications, the optical satellite images, in particular with high resolutions from sensors such as SPOT (Chevrel et al., 1981) and IKONOS (Tanaka & Sugimura, 2001), provides excellent legibility, but they may be affected by the clouds and weather conditions. On the other hand, SAR images are not influenced by climate and they can be obtained day-and-night, but they suffer from a serious intrinsic speckle noise (Franceschetti & Lanari, 1999; Lampropoulos & Boulter, 1997). 24
PET imaging of brain amyloid in dementia: a review

To review the rapidly expanding literature of amyloid PET imaging with particular attention to Pittsburgh compound‐B (PIB) in Alzheimer's disease (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), fronto‐temporal dementia (FTD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and cognitively normal volunteers.
Two mechanisms of butenafine action in Candida albicans

The mechanism of action of a new benzylamine antimycotic, butenafine hydrochloride, was studied in Candida albicans by using the thiocarbamate antimycotic tolnaftate as a reference drug. Butenafine completely inhibited the growth of a test strain of C. albicans at 25 micrograms/ml and was cidal at 50 micrograms/ml. Tolnaftate did not show any growth-inhibitory activity up to 100 micrograms/ml. Both butenafine and tolnaftate inhibited squalene epoxidation in C. albicans, with 50% inhibitory concentrations being 0.57 and 0.17 microgram/ml, respectively. Butenafine, but not tolnaftate, induced the release of appreciable amounts of Pi from C. albicans cells at 12.5 micrograms/ml. This effect of butenafine was augmented when the cells were pretreated with tolnaftate. The results suggest that the direct membrane-damaging effect of butenafine may play a major role in its anticandidal activity and that the drug-induced alteration in the cellular sterol composition renders the cell membrane more susceptible to the membrane-damaging effect of this drug.
The site of lesion in “vestibular neuritis”: Study by galvanic VEMP

Vestibular neuritis (VN) is characterized by isolated vertigo without other neurologic signs or symptoms.1 Patients show unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction mainly in the superior vestibular nerve region,2 although some patients also have dysfunction in the inferior vestibular nerve region.1,3⇓ Although VN supposedly involves the vestibular nerve, insufficient evidence is available concerning the VN lesion site. It is known that some patients with VN have benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) following severe vertigo attacks.1 These patients would be expected to have some lesions in the labyrinth because BPPV is caused by floating debris in the semicircular canal.4 Recently, it was reported that short-duration galvanic stimulation could evoke vestibulocollic reflexes in the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM)5-7⇓⇓ (galvanic vestibular evoked myogenic potentials [VEMP]). It has also been reported that these reflexes are useful for differentiating labyrinthine lesions from nerve lesions in patients with an absence of VEMP by click (click VEMP). 6 We postulated that galvanic VEMP could indicate the site …
UOBIČAJENA TJELESNA AKTIVNOST STUDENATA MEDICINSKOG FAKULTETA SVEUČILIŠTA U ZAGREBU

Čvrsti znanstveni dokazi pokazuju da su mnoge bolesti češće u osoba koje se rijetko ili uopće ne bave tjelesnom aktivnošću. Studenti medicine poseban su dio populacije jer će vrlo brzo biti oni koji moraju promovirati tjelesnu aktivnost. Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi razinu tjelesne aktivnosti studenata Medicinskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, razlike između studenata i studentica te između studenata na nižim i višim godinama studija. Uzorak ispitanika sastavljen je od 117 studenata i 195studentica, anketiranih putem Baeckeovog upitnika koji omogućava izračunavanje tri indeksa: radni (WI), sportski (SI) i indeks slobodnog vremena (LI). Dobiveni rezultati analizirani su standardnim statističkim postupcima. Izračunati su osnovni deskriptivni parametri, a t-testom analizirana je značajnost razlika. Istraživanje je pokazalo da studenti medicine ne odstupaju značajno od prosječne populacije u Hrvatskoj, ali je isto tako utvrdilo da se gotovo polovina njih ne bavi nikakvim sportom ili rekreacijom. Teško je za očekivati da će neaktivni medicinari kvalitetno zastupati trend za povećanjem tjelesne aktivnosti danas prisutan u svijetu. Upravo iz tog razloga trebalo bi više poraditi na edukaciji studenata medicine vezano uz korisnost tjelesne aktivnosti.