Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Preceding Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Movement Velocity and EMG Signal during the Back Squat Exercise

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of preceding anodal transcranial direct stimulation (a-tDCS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) during the back squat exercise on movement velocity and surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity. Thirteen healthy, well-trained, male firefighters (34.72 ± 3.33 years; 178 ± 7.61 cm; 76.85 ± 11.21 kg; 26.8 ± 4.2 kg·m−2; back squat 1-repetition maximum 141.5 ± 16.3 kg) completed this randomised double-blinded sham-controlled crossover study. After familiarisation and basal measurements, participants attended the laboratory on two occasions separated by 72 h to receive either Sham or a-tDCS (current intensity of 2 mA for 20 min). Immediately after stimulation, participants completed three sets of 12 repetitions (70% of 1-RM) with three minutes of recovery between sets monitored with a linear position transducer. The sEMG of the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL) of both legs were recorded. No significant differences were observed between a-tDCS and Sham interventions on mean concentric velocity at any set (p > 0.05). Velocity loss and effort index were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in set 3 compared to set 1 only in the a-tDCS group. The right-leg RM and right-leg VL elicited the greatest muscle activation during set 1 after a-tDCS and Sham, respectively (p < 0.05). Our results revealed that a-tDCS over the DLPFC might impact movement velocity or fatigue tolerance in well-trained individuals. Notwithstanding, significant differences in dominant-leg muscle activity were found both in a-tDCS and Sham.
Adaptation of the Pedestrian Walkways Design along the Trans Semarang Bus Corridor to COVID-19

COVID-19 cases continue to increase in Indonesia, with an estimated value of 719,000 and an 8.37% mortality rate, due to the severity and potency of the deadly disease. One of the provinces that mostly contributes to the high mortality rate is Central Java, especially in populous areas like Semarang City. The spread of the virus occurs through direct contact between humans, forcing physical and social distances to become more important, especially in public spaces. Based on these conditions, city planning experts reportedly suggests a public space re-design process, adaptable to the current pandemic conditions, in order to provide a comfortable, safer, and sustainable urban life. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the integration of the mass transportation system (the Bus Trans Semarang) with the readjustment and redesign potentials of pedestrian walkways, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the past two years, the development of pedestrian walkways has become an integral part of the Semarang City Government, in order to realize a sustainable transportation system. Furthermore, the pandemic has presently made pedestrian walkways less functional, due to public concerns on its spread in external areas. The retrieval spatial-based data of this study focused on the bus stops for the Trans Semarang Bus Corridor, which were potential points for the emergence of walking activities. The method used in the measurement of pedestrian activity included behavioral mapping and urban design analysis. This was to identify the pedestrian design indicators that were adaptive to the pandemic conditions. The simulation methods also assisted the data visualization process, by using spatial applications such as ArcGIS and Sketchup. After this, the calculation of the capacity was carried out, to determine the maximum limit of the available spaces. The results were in the form of indicators, such as additional width, lane division, as well as provision of health and hygiene facilities. These were the main recommendations applied on the pedestrian walkways' environmental characteristics, at various points in Semarang City.
New stability criterion for linear switched systems with time‐varying delay

This paper studies the stability problem of a class of linear switched systems with time‐varying delay in the sense of Hurwitz convex combination. By designing a parameter‐dependent switching law and using a new convex combination technique to deal with delay terms, a new stability criterion is established in terms of LMIs, which is dependent on the parameters of Hurwitz convex combination. The advantage of the new criterion lies in its less conservatism and simplicity. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness and the less conservatism of the proposed method. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Increased forest coverage will induce more carbon fixation in vegetation than in soil during 2015–2060 in China based on CMIP6

As components of terrestrial carbon sinks, vegetation and soil carbon pools are important for offsetting CO2 emissions. However, differences in their carbon sequestration capacities and their responses to global change in the future are poorly understood. This study assessed the changes in vegetation and soil carbon and their ratios and drivers under the SSP126 scenario from 2015 to 2060, using Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 simulations in China, a major carbon sink region in global terrestrial ecosystems. The content of vegetation carbon (29 ± 1 PgC) was observed to be lower than that of soil carbon (113 ± 23 PgC), and the ratio of vegetation to soil carbon was the highest in the subtropical-tropical monsoon climatic region (0.55 ± 0.12). Moreover, the total stock of vegetation and soil carbon increased by 10 ± 1 PgC during the study period, and the increase in vegetation carbon was 4.31 times that of soil carbon, because the responses of vegetation carbon stocks to increased forest coverage and atmospheric CO2 were greater than that of soil carbon stocks, especially in the subtropical-tropical and temperate monsoonal climatic regions. However, bare land encroachment on grasslands reduced their increments in the temperate monsoonal and high-cold Tibetan Plateau climatic regions. Furthermore, compared with SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios, vegetation and soil carbon sinks can offset a greater amount of carbon emissions in 2060 under the SSP126 scenario, accounting for 53% of all carbon emissions, offsetting 60%–79% of carbon emissions from China under its policy of increasing forest coverage. The study revealed the important role of afforestation in increasing ecosystem carbon stocks, additionally, grassland conservation and deep reductions in carbon emissions cannot be ignored in the future. This study provides a basis for determining the response of vegetation and soil carbon to environmental factors and the realization of net-zero emissions globally.
Cluster Analysis to Distinguish Patients Most Likely to Benefit from Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation—A Prospective, Multicenter Study

Offering cardiac rehabilitation to people who can benefit most could improve the outcomes in the context of limited availability. We used cluster analysis to distinguish three patient groups based on clinical and laboratory variables and then compared the outcomes of 6-month outpatient cardiac rehabilitation between these groups. The outcomes included blood pressure, blood lipids, fasting blood glucose, and uric acid concertation in serum. Group 1 consisted primarily of men with obesity, increased blood pressure, favourable lipid profiles and increased fasting glucose. Group 2 consisted of men or women with normal weight, normal blood pressure, favourable lipid profiles, and normal fasting glucose. Group 3 consisted primarily of women with overweight, normal blood pressure, unfavourable lipid profiles, and normal fasting glucose. After 6 months of cardiac rehabilitation, blood lipids improved in group 3, whereas blood pressure improved in groups 1 and 3, but the outcomes did not change significantly in group 2. We did not see any effect of cardiac rehabilitation on fasting blood glucose and serum uric acid concentration in any group. Concentrations of glucose and uric acid did not change significantly in any group. In conclusion, an adequate selection of patients should maximise the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation.
Recent developments in bootstrapping time series

In recent years, several new parametric and nonparametric bootstrap methods have been proposed for time series data. Which of these methods should applied researchers use? We provide evidence that for many applications in time series econometrics parametric methods are more accurate, and we identify directions for future research on improving nonparametric methods. We explicitly address the important, but often neglected issue of model selection in bootstrapping. In particular, we emphasize the advantages of the AIC over other lag order selection criteria and the need to account for lag order uncertainty in resampling. We also show that the block size plays an important role in determining the success of the block bootstrap, and we propose a data-based block size selection procedure.
Coarse rigidity of Euclidean buildings

We prove the following rigidity results. Coarse equivalences between metrically complete Euclidean buildings preserve thick spherical buildings at infinity. If all irreducible factors have rank at least two, then coarsely equivalent Euclidean buildings are isometric (up to scaling factors); if in addition none of the irreducible factors is a Euclidean cone, then the isometry is unique and has finite distance from the coarse equivalence. This generalizes work of Kleiner and Leeb. We prove coarse (i.e. quasi-isometric) rigidity results for trees (simplicial trees and R-trees) and, more generally, for discrete and nondiscrete Euclidean buildings. For trees, a key ingredient is a certain equivariance condition. Without this condition, quasi-isometric rigidity fails. The ‘infinite letters’ X and H are, for example, coarsely equivalent without being isometric. Note, too, that any two simplicial trees of finite constant valence are coarsely equivalent without being necessarily isometric [21]. Our main results are as follows.
Response Surface Methodology (RSM) Optimization of the Physicochemical Quality Attributes of Ultraviolet (UV-C)-Treated Barhi Dates

Barhi date fruit is one of the most important fruits that has high consumer preference and market value at the Khalal maturity stage. However, this stage is very short and the fruit is vulnerable to decay and the ripening process under improper handling and storage conditions. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of utilizing ultraviolet (UV-C) as a method to preserve the qualitative features of Barhi dates under various storage circumstances. The core of this study was defining the best conditions for UV-C treatment of Barhi dates, which was accomplished using a response surface methodology (RSM) model with a central composite, rotating four-factors-mixed-levels design (CCRD). The impacts of independent variables [UV-C exposure time (1, 2, 3, 4 min), UV-C dose (1, 3, 5, 7 kJ/m2), storage time (1, 6, 11, 16, 21 days) and storage temperature (1, 5, 15, 25 °C)] on the moisture content (MC), total soluble solids (TSS), total color changes (E), firmness, total phenolic content (TPC), total viable count (TVC), DPPH antiradical activity, fructose and glucose were investigated. The results revealed that the optimum UV-C treatment and storage settings for keeping the quality features of the dates were the UV-C exposure period and dosage of 1 min and 2.07 kJ/m2, and the storage time and temperature of 18 days and 12.36 °C, respectively. At the optimum conditions, the values of 59.66% moisture content, 38.24% TSS, 60.24 N firmness value, 48.83 ΔE, 0.07 log CFU/g TVC, 5.29 mg GAE/g TPC, 56.32% DPPH antiradical activity, 6.87 g/100 g fructose and 14.02 g/100 g glucose were comparable predicted values demonstrating the suitability of the used RSM models. Overall, the perfect UV-C treatment and storage circumstances for extending the storability and shelf life and maintaining the quality features of Barhi dates were identified in this study.
Extracting baryon-antibaryon strong-interaction potentials from pΛ ̄ femtoscopic correlation functions

The STAR experiment has measured $p\Lambda$, $\bar{p}\bar{\Lambda}$, $\bar{p}\Lambda$, and $p\bar{\Lambda}$ femtoscopic correlation functions in central Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200$ GeV. The system size extracted for $p\Lambda$ and $\bar{p}\bar{\Lambda}$ is consistent with model expectations and results for other pair types, while for $p\bar{\Lambda}$ and $\bar{p}\Lambda$ it is not consistent with the other two and significantly lower. In addition an attempt was made to extract the unknown parameters of the strong interaction potential for this baryon-antibaryon ($B\bar{B}$) pair. In this work we reanalyze the STAR data, taking into account residual femtoscopic correlations from heavier $B\bar{B}$ pairs. We obtain new estimates for the system size, consistent with the results for $p\Lambda$ and $\bar{p}\bar{\Lambda}$ pairs and with model expectations. We give new estimates for the strong interaction potential parameters for $p\bar{\Lambda}$ and show that similar constraints can be given for parameters for other, heavier $B\bar{B}$ pairs.
Never Too Late to Train: The Effects of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training on the Shape of the Levator Hiatus in Incontinent Older Women

Pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training is the first-line treatment for women of all ages with urinary incontinence (UI), but evidence supporting its effects on the functional anatomy of the pelvic floor is scarce in older women. We aimed to evaluate the long-term (one-year) effects of PFM training on the shape of the levator hiatus (LH) in older women with UI and its association with PFM force, incontinence severity, and potential effect modifiers (age, UI severity, BMI, and UI type). This is a secondary analysis of the GROUP study, a non-inferiority RCT assessing the effects of a structured and progressive 12-week PFM training program to treat UI in older women. Data were available from 264/308 participants at the one-year follow-up. PFM training resulted in reduced LH size toward a more “circular” shape, which was consistently associated with greater PFM force and reduced UI severity. Further, no significant interactions were found between LH shape changes and any of the potential effect modifiers, suggesting that women will potentially benefit from PFM training, regardless of age, UI severity, BMI, and UI type (stress or mixed), with changes that can be observed in the functional anatomy of the pelvic floor and sustained in the long-term.
I’m just a soul whose intentions are good – narratives in applications for debt reconstruction in Sweden

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study is to deepen the understanding of over-indebted persons’ ways of describing the causes of their debts and the part they and others played in the emergence of the problematic situation, in their written communications with public authorities with influence over the debt-reconstruction process. The method was a qualitative multiple-case-study design with a purposive, cross-sectional sample consisting of personal letters attached to debt reconstruction applications submitted to the Swedish Enforcement Agency. The results reveal three main ways that applicants present their cases: Attributing responsibility to oneself, Avoiding the question of responsibility, and Attributing responsibility to others. The authors suggest that the results can be used in social work to help over-indebted people to understand and present their problems in a way that restores their vulnerable identity and allows them to counteract interpretations of them as having acted irresponsibly regarding their finances.
Psychostimulants Modafinil, Atomoxetine and Guanfacine Impair Bone Cell Differentiation and MSC Migration

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common worldwide mental disorders in children, young and adults. If left untreated, the disorder can continue into adulthood. The abuse of ADHD-related drugs to improve mental performance for studying, working and everyday life is also rising. The potentially high number of subjects with controlled or uncontrolled use of such substances increases the impact of possible side effects. It has been shown before that the early ADHD drug methylphenidate influences bone metabolism negatively. This study focused on the influence of three more recent cognitive enhancers, modafinil, atomoxetine and guanfacine, on the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to osteoblasts and on their cell functions, including migration. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were incubated with a therapeutic plasma dosage of modafinil, atomoxetine and guanfacine. Gene expression analyses revealed a high beta-2 adrenoreceptor expression in hMSC, suggesting it as a possible pathway to stimulate action. In bone formation assays, all three cognitive enhancers caused a significant decrease in the mineralized matrix and an early slight reduction of cell viability without triggering apoptosis or necrosis. While there was no effect of the three substances on early differentiation, they showed differing effects on the expression of osterix (OSX), receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in the later stages of osteoblast development, suggesting alternative modes of action. All three substances significantly inhibited hMSC migration. This effect could be rescued by a selective beta-blocker (Imperial Chemical Industries ICI-118,551) in modafinil and atomoxetine, suggesting mediation via beta-2 receptor stimulation. In conclusion, modafinil, atomoxetine and guanfacine negatively influence hMSC differentiation to bone-forming osteoblasts and cell migration through different intracellular pathways.
Study of the Potential Accumulation of the Pesticide Alpha-Endosulfan by Microplastics in Water Systems

Microplastics (MP) are spread into all ecosystems and represent a threat to the equilibrium of the environment and human health, not only due to their intrinsic characteristics but also to their action as effective carriers of contaminants, such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The pesticide α-endosulfan is persistent and spread in the environment. The MP are another possible way of dissemination to be considered in the fate of this pesticide. The adsorption dynamics of α-endosulfan by six different MP (low-density polyethylene—LDPE, polyethylene-co-vinyl acetate, unplasticized polyvinyl chloride, polyamide 6, polystyrene granule, polypropylene granule) with different sizes/shapes and chemical compositions were evaluated. The most critical situation was identified for the system LDPE (particle size < 300 μm). Equilibrium studies (48 h equilibrium time) were performed for distilled, tap and filtered river water. Based on the Langmuir model parameters, the highest maximum adsorption capacity was obtained for distilled water, followed by filtered river and tap waters (i.e., 366 ± 39, 247 ± 38, 157 ± 22 μg/g). The obtained results demonstrate the important role that microplastics may have in the fate and transport of pesticides and their potentially harmful effect on the environment, which requires further investigation.
Transport Through Correlated Quantum Dots -- A Functional Renormalization Group Approach

We present a recently-developed renormalization group scheme, the functional renormalization group (fRG), as a many-particle method suited to account for the two-particle interactions between the electrons in complex quantum dot geometries. A detailed derivation of a truncated set of RG flow equations that requires only basic knowledge of the functional integral approach to many-particle physics is given. Using fRG we study linear-response transport properties of a variety of quantum dots in the zero-temperature limit. For parallel geometries, we observe a generic crossover from mesoscopic to universal behaviour of the transmission phase if the single-particle level spacing is gradually decreased. We tackle a couple of well-known systems (the SIAM, the side-coupled geometry and short Hubbard chains), showing that the fRG correctly captures Kondo physics. We make use of the little computational resources required to scan the whole parameter space of these systems, partly uncovering new physics. The high accuracy of the fRG is demonstrated by extensive comparisons with NRG data.
On False Discovery and Non‐discovery Proportions of the Dynamic Adaptive Procedure

This paper studies the asymptotic behaviour of the false discovery and non‐discovery proportions of the dynamic adaptive procedure under some dependence structure. A Bahadur‐type representation of the cut point in simultaneously performing a large scale of tests is presented. The asymptotic bias decompositions of the false discovery and non‐discovery proportions are given under some dependence structure. In addition to existing literatures, we find that the randomness due to the dynamic selection of the tuning parameter in estimating the true null rate serves as a source of the approximation error in the Bahadur representation and enters into the asymptotic bias term of the false discovery proportion and those of the false non‐discovery proportion. The theory explains to some extent why some seemingly attractive dynamic adaptive procedures do not outperform the competing fixed adaptive procedures substantially in some situations. Simulations justify our theory and findings.
Impact of Family Functioning on Adolescent Materialism and Egocentrism in Mainland China: Positive Youth Development Attributes as a Mediator

Although adolescent materialism and egocentrism are growing problems in Chinese societies, there are very few studies investigating their predictors and related mediators. Longitudinal studies in this area are also sparse. Based on a short-term longitudinal study (n = 4981), we assessed the impact of family functioning on materialism and egocentrism of Chinese adolescents, with positive youth development attributes as a hypothesized mediating factor. Results showed that family functioning positively predicted positive youth development attributes but negatively predicted adolescent materialism and egocentrism; positive youth development attributes also negatively predicted adolescent materialism and egocentrism. Mediational analyses showed that positive youth development attributes mediated the impact of family functioning on adolescent materialism and egocentrism. The theoretical and methodological advances of the study are discussed.
On generalizations of asymptotically AdS_3 spaces and geometry of SL(N)

In three and two dimensions the asymptotic symmetry groups of $AdS$ spaces are infinite dimensional. This can be explained easily by noting the relations $AdS_3 \simeq SL(2)$ and $AdS_2 \simeq SL(2)/SO(2)$, i.e. that the asymptotic symmetries are in fact that of the Lie group SL(2). As show in the author's previous work, similar infinite dimensional asymptotic symmetry groups can be found in the case of SL(3) and probably also for other noncompact Lie groups and their homogeneous spaces. The purpose of the present work is to revisit the $AdS_3$ space in detail from the Lie group point of view by finding the boundary theory energy-momentum tensor and to prepare to tackle the SL(3) and SL(N) cases.