Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measured maximal oxygen uptake in a multi-stage shuttle test and treadmill-run test in trained athletes.

AIM The aims of the study were: i) to compare the measured maximal oxygen uptake (MVO2max) during the 20 m multi-stage shuttle test (MST) with MVO2max during an incremental treadmill-run test (TRT), and ii) to establish the reliability of MVO2max during MST, in trained athletes. METHODS EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN 8 well-trained endurance-athletes (END) and 8 athletes involved in team games (GAM) performed the MST twice (i.e. MST1 and MST2) and the TRT once, in 3 separate sessions. MEASURES MVO2maxx attained in the MST and TRT was measured using a portable respiratory analyser (model K4 RQ, Cosmed). RESULTS MVO2max attained in the MST and TRT were significantly different for the END athletes (4.1+/-0.28 vs 4.45+/-0.31 Lxmin-1, P<0.05) but not for GAM athletes (4.01+/-0.51 vs 4.1+/-0.59 Lxmin-1, P>0.05). The 95% limits of agreement for MVO2max in the MST in Lxmin-1 were -0.67 to 0.27. MVO2max in MST1 and MST2 were not significantly different for END athletes (4.18+/-0.39 vs 4.1+/-0.28 Lxmin-1, P>0.05) and GAM athletes (4.01+/-0.55 vs 4.01+/-0.51 Lxmin-1, P>0.05). Reliability indicators for MVO2max in Lxmin-1 for MST test-retest were: typical error (TE)=0.14, coefficient of variation (CV)=3.5 and intra-class correlation (ICC)=0.90. CONCLUSION MVO2max in the MST was lower than that measured in the TRT for the END athletes but not for the GAM athletes. Sport-specificity was an important consideration, especially when testing END athletes for VO2max. MVO2max in the MST showed acceptable levels of reproducibility.
A comparison of regression methods for model selection in individual‐based landscape genetic analysis

Anthropogenic migration barriers fragment many populations and limit the ability of species to respond to climate‐induced biome shifts. Conservation actions designed to conserve habitat connectivity and mitigate barriers are needed to unite fragmented populations into larger, more viable metapopulations, and to allow species to track their climate envelope over time. Landscape genetic analysis provides an empirical means to infer landscape factors influencing gene flow and thereby inform such conservation actions. However, there are currently many methods available for model selection in landscape genetics, and considerable uncertainty as to which provide the greatest accuracy in identifying the true landscape model influencing gene flow among competing alternative hypotheses. In this study, we used population genetic simulations to evaluate the performance of seven regression‐based model selection methods on a broad array of landscapes that varied by the number and type of variables contributing to resistance, the magnitude and cohesion of resistance, as well as the functional relationship between variables and resistance. We also assessed the effect of transformations designed to linearize the relationship between genetic and landscape distances. We found that linear mixed effects models had the highest accuracy in every way we evaluated model performance; however, other methods also performed well in many circumstances, particularly when landscape resistance was high and the correlation among competing hypotheses was limited. Our results provide guidance for which regression‐based model selection methods provide the most accurate inferences in landscape genetic analysis and thereby best inform connectivity conservation actions.
A Robust Reorder-Time/Order-Quantity Policy Under Invisible Stock Loss

Inventory record inaccuracy has significant negative impacts on the performance of inventory management. We investigate a robust replenishment problem for an inventory system under inventory record inaccuracy caused by invisible stock loss, with the objective of minimizing the sum of the inventory holding cost, the backorder cost, and the materials transportation cost. First, we develop a recursive algorithm to estimate the probability distribution of the physical inventory levels. Based on this probability distribution, a robust myopic reorder-time/order-quantity (RTQ) policy is designed, which determines the robust reorder time and the robust replenishment quantity. Theoretical analysis and numerical experiments reveal some managerial insights of the proposed RTQ policy and the classical (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${r}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${Q}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>), (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${s}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${S}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>), and (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${R}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${S}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) policies: 1) if there exist invisible stock loss and inaccurate inventory record, the inventory system will be trapped into the zero-service state (i.e., the inventory level becomes less than or equal to zero with probability one) in finite time under the classical policies and 2) if the probability distribution of inventory record error is known exactly, the RTQ policy prevents the inventory system from being trapped into the zero-service state and maintains a high service level, even if we do not make any audit of its physical inventory level.
A design of current balancing circuit for parallel connected LED strings using balancing transformers

This paper presents a design method of current-balancing circuits for parallel connected LED strings. Current LED error strings caused by characteristic deviations could not only reduce the life time of a particular point of LEDs by thermal spot but can also causes non-uniform luminance of the lighting device. Among the methods for solving this problem, a method using current-balancing transformers makes it easy to compensate for current errors and has simple circuitry. Generally, balancing transformers in lighting applications are applied to AC light sources. Applying these LED strings, which operate on a DC source, needs to verify performance and redesigned. In conventional deign methods, balancing transformers have equal inductance, but the transformer inductance could be smaller according to a cascaded level by worst-case impedance estimation. In this paper we designed a current-balancing circuit for an LED matrix and applied it to a 100-watt LED security light, consisting of an LLC inverter and balancing transformers. And experimental results are represented to verify the performance of designed driving circuits.
The effect of using a pre-dive checklist on the incidence of diving mishaps in recreational scuba diving: a cluster-randomized trial.

BACKGROUND Scuba diving mishaps, caused by equipment problems or human errors, increase the occurrence of injuries and fatalities while diving. Pre-dive checklists may mitigate mishaps. This study evaluated the effect of using a pre-dive checklist on the incidence of diving mishaps in recreational divers. METHODS A multi-location cluster-randomized trial with parallel groups and allocation concealment was conducted between 1 June and 17 August 2012. The participants had to be at least 18 years of age, permitted to dive by the dive operator and planning to dive on the day of participation. They were recruited at the pier and dive boats at four locations. The intervention group received a pre-dive checklist and post-dive log. The control group received a post-dive log only. The outcomes, self-reported major and minor mishaps, were prompted by a post-dive questionnaire. Mishap rates per 100 dives were compared using Poisson regression with generalized estimating equations. Intent-to-treat, per-protocol and marginal structural model analyses were conducted. RESULTS A total of 1043 divers (intervention = 617; control = 426) made 2041 dives, on 70 location-days (intervention = 40; control = 30) at four locations. Compared with the control group, the incidence of major mishaps decreased in the intervention group by 36%, minor mishaps by 26% and all mishaps by 32%. On average, there was one fewer mishap in every 25 intervention dives. CONCLUSIONS In this trial, pre-dive checklist use prevented mishaps which could lead to injuries and fatalities. Pre-dive checklists can increase diving safety and their use should be promoted. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT01960738.
Influence of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy on In-Hospital Outcomes in Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

ABSTRACT Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is associated with worse outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, its role in an acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) has not been reported. This was a retrospective cohort study during 2008–2012 at an academic medical center. AECOPD patients >18 years with available echocardiographic data were included. LVH was defined as LV mass index (LVMI) >95 g/m2 (women) and >115g/m2 (men). Relative wall thickness was used to classify LVH as concentric (>0.42) or eccentric (<0.42). Outcomes included need for and duration of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and mechanical ventilation (MV), NIV failure, intensive care unit (ICU) and total length of stay (LOS), and in-hospital mortality. Two-tailed p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Of 802 patients with AECOPD, 615 patients with 264 (42.9%) having LVH were included. The LVH cohort had higher LVMI (141.1 ± 39.4 g/m2 vs. 79.7 ± 19.1 g/m2; p < 0.001) and lower LV ejection fraction (44.5±21.9% vs. 50.0±21.6%; p ≤ 0.001). The LVH cohort had statistically non-significant longer ICU LOS, and higher NIV and MV use and duration. Of the 264 LVH patients, concentric LVH (198; 75.0%) was predictive of greater NIV use [82 (41.4%) vs. 16 (24.2%), p = 0.01] and duration (1.0 ± 1.9 vs. 0.6 ± 1.4 days, p = 0.01) compared to eccentric LVH. Concentric LVH remained independently associated with NIV use and duration. In-hospital outcomes in patients with AECOPD were comparable in patients with and without LVH. Patients with concentric LVH had higher NIV need and duration in comparison to eccentric LVH.
Regulation of DNA-Raised Immune Responses by Cotransfected Interferon Regulatory Factors

ABSTRACT Interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1), IRF-3, and IRF-7 have been tested as genetic adjuvants for influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) and nucleoprotein vaccine DNAs. Cotransfection of HA with IRF-3 and IRF-7 increased CD4 T-cell responses by 2- to 4-fold and CD8 T-cell responses by more than 10-fold. Following intramuscular deliveries of DNA, both CD4 and CD8 T cells were biased towards type 1 immune responses and the production of gamma interferon. Following gene gun bombardments of DNA, both were biased towards type 2 immune responses and the production of interleukin-4. The biases of the T-cell responses towards type 1 or type 2 were stronger for immunizations with IRF-3 as an adjuvant than for immunizations with IRF-7 as an adjuvant. Moderate adjuvant effects for antibody were observed. The isotypes of the antibody responses reflected the method of DNA delivery; intramuscular deliveries of DNA predominantly raised immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a), whereas gene gun deliveries of DNA predominantly raised IgG1. These biases were enhanced by the codelivered IRFs. Overall, under the conditions of our experiments, IRF-3 had good activity for T cells, IRF-7 had good activity for both antibody and T cells, and IRF-1 had good activity for antibody.
Effect of hot-air drying temperature on the polyphenol content and the sensory properties of cocoa beans

Several studies have been reported on the potential health benefits of cocoa polyphenols. However, heat treatment on cocoa beans during drying has an inhibitory effect on the retention of its polyphenols. The polyphenol degradation mechanism due to heating is scarcely reported in literatures for cocoa beans. This paper aims to provide substantial evidence to prove that temperature and heating time has a negative effect on cocoa polyphenols. The study measured total polyphenols content of cocoa beans dried at 60°C, 70°C and 80°C respectively, at relative humidity (RH) level of 50% for heating time ranging from 0 to 40 h. Results showed that the total polyphenols content was found to be a maximum at 70°C drying temperature and reduced as the heating time for drying increased. This experiment confirmed the thermal degradation of polyphenols due to high temperature and exposure time with little effect from enzymatic activity especially at very low moisture content level. Sensory evaluation showed that astringency taste was rated higher for sample dried at 70°C.
Going viral: chimeric antigen receptor T‐cell therapy for hematological malignancies

On July 1, 2014, the United States Food and Drug Administration granted ‘breakthrough therapy’ designation to CTL019, the anti‐CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T‐cell therapy developed at the University of Pennsylvania. This is the first personalized cellular therapy for cancer to be so designated and occurred 25 years after the first publication describing genetic redirection of T cells to a surface antigen of choice. The peer‐reviewed literature currently contains the outcomes of more than 100 patients treated on clinical trials of anti‐CD19 redirected T cells, and preliminary results on many more patients have been presented. At last count almost 30 clinical trials targeting CD19 were actively recruiting patients in North America, Europe, and Asia. Patients with high‐risk B‐cell malignancies therefore represent the first beneficiaries of an exciting and potent new treatment modality that harnesses the power of the immune system as never before. A handful of trials are targeting non‐CD19 hematological and solid malignancies and represent the vanguard of enormous preclinical efforts to develop CAR T‐cell therapy beyond B‐cell malignancies. In this review, we explain the concept of chimeric antigen receptor gene‐modified T cells, describe the extant results in hematologic malignancies, and share our outlook on where this modality is likely to head in the near future.
Activated Protein C Attenuates Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Lupus Nephritis in MRL-Fas(lpr) Mice

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease leading to inflammatory tissue damage in multiple organs (e.g., lupus nephritis). Current treatments including steroids, antimalarials, and immunosuppressive drugs have significant side effects. Activated protein C is a natural protein with anticoagulant and immunomodulatory effects, and its recombinant version has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat severe sepsis. Given the similarities between overshooting immune activation in sepsis and autoimmunity, we hypothesized that recombinant activated protein C would also suppress SLE and lupus nephritis. To test this concept, autoimmune female MRL-Fas(lpr) mice were injected with either vehicle or recombinant human activated protein C from week 14–18 of age. Activated protein C treatment significantly suppressed lupus nephritis as evidenced by decrease in activity index, glomerular IgG and complement C3 deposits, macrophage counts, as well as intrarenal IL-12 expression. Further, activated protein C attenuated cutaneous lupus and lung disease as compared with vehicle-treated MRL-Fas(lpr) mice. In addition, parameters of systemic autoimmunity, such as plasma cytokine levels of IL-12p40, IL-6, and CCL2/MCP-1, and numbers of B cells and plasma cells in spleen were suppressed by activated protein C. The latter was associated with lower total plasma IgM and IgG levels as well as lower titers of anti-dsDNA IgG and rheumatoid factor. Together, recombinant activated protein C suppresses the abnormal systemic immune activation in SLE of MRL-Fas(lpr) mice, which prevents subsequent kidney, lung, and skin disease. These results implicate that recombinant activated protein C might be useful for the treatment of human SLE.
Design of a Compact UWB Bandpass Filter using Via-Less CRLH TL

A novel compact ultra wideband (UWB) bandpass filter (BPF) based on composite right/left handed transmission line (CRLH TL) is reported in this paper. The proposed UWB BPF is designed and developed by coupling of two unit-cells of via-less CRLH TL, excited by asymmetrical coplanar waveguide (CPW) feed-line. The unit cell of CRLH TL is designed using series interdigital capacitor (IDC) in shunt with the shorted inductive stub. Because of the CPW-fed, no via is required to get the shunt inductance for the realization of CRLH TL, which minimizes the fabrication steps. The filter is compact in size 11.9 x 6 mm 2 . The proposed filter exhibits the return-loss (|S 11 |) more than 11.2 dB and insertion-loss (|S 21 |) less than 0.5 dB and low and flat group delay response throughout the passband, 3.3 GHz to 13.0 GHz. The proposed UWB BPF also shows the good stopband rejection (|S 21 | > 20 dB and |S 11 | < 0.8 dB) from 13.6 GHz to 15 GHz and steep roll-off from passband to stopband. The fractional bandwidth (FBW) of the filter is found to be 119 %. The equivalent lumped circuit model of the filter is obtained through Ansoft Designer. All simulated results are extracted through method of moment based simulator, IE3D. Agilent vector network analyzer (VNA) is used to get the measured results. All measured results are found in close similarity with the simulated results.
Pulmonary and ductus arteriosus circulation in the fetal lamb before and after birth.

Pulmonary and ductus arteriosus circulation was studied in lambs before and after delivery. Flows were measured with electromagnetic flowmeters and pulmonary and systemic pressures with strain gauges. Before interrupting the umbilical circulation and expanding the lungs, pulmonary artery pressure was higher than system pressure and the direction of flow in the ductus was from right to left. Flow in the pulmonary artery varied from 154 to 258 ml/kg/min, of which about 60% passed through the ductus and the remaining through the lungs. After cutting the umbilical cord and expanding the lungs, systemic pressure rose and pulmonary pressure fell. This reversed the direction of flow in the ductus. Pulmonary artery flow fell temporarily after cord occlusion but increased when respiration was established. Ductus flow decreased progressively until the end of the experiment. Total flow to the lungs increased by four- to sixfold after respiration had been established and the increase was due to reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance.
Differences Exist in the Cognitive Profile of Mild Alzheimer’s Disease and Subcortical Ischemic Vascular Dementia

Background/Aims: Our objective was to characterize the cognitive profile of patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and subcortical ischemic vascular dementia (SIVD) matched using a functional scale. Methods: AD and SIVD were diagnosed using the NINCDS-ADRDA and the criteria proposed by Erkinjuntti et al., respectively. The Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale was used to guide the identification of patients with mild dementia from a prospective clinical database. Regression analysis was applied to compare the 2 groups on global and individual cognitive domains. Results: The greatest cognitive differences between the 2 groups were observed in the domains of visuospatial function (p = 0.001), working memory (p = 0.013) and visuomotor speed (p = 0.028). No significant variation was demonstrated in the executive function domain (p = 0.646). Statistically significant differences between AD and SIVD patients were found in episodic memory delayed recall tasks but not in the immediate recall tasks. A trend towards severer depressive symptoms (p = 0.052) was observed among the SIVD patients. Conclusions: SIVD patients with mild dementia have greater deficits in visuospatial function, working memory and visuomotor speed and may also be more depressed compared to AD patients. Executive function tests in general do not distinguish the 2 groups, although timed executive tasks can separate them.
CLINICAL APPLICATIONS OF STUDIES ON STEREOTACTICALLY IMPLANTED ELECTRODES IN TEMPORAL-LOBE EPILEPSY.

T HE clinical manifestations of discharges of seizures now termed temporal-lobe epilepsy, have been recognized since the article of Jackson TM in 1888. That the origin is in the uncinate region was reported by Jackson and Cohnan 1~ in 1898. The development of electroencephalography was necessary to provide a confirmatory test and a reliable means to distinguish these states of seizures. Jasper and Kershman 12 observed in 1941 that patients with psychomotor episodes usually had sharp waves and rhythms of 6 per sec. , often synchronous bilaterally, and sometimes localized in the frontotemporal regions. It seemed clear to them from the nature of these disturbances that the temporal lobe and subjacent structures in the archipallium were the regions involved primarily. The first clear correlation of the clinical features and the loci of anteriortemporal spikes either unilaterally or bilaterally, as well as their detection by recording during sleep, came from Gibbs et al. 6 in 1948. With the identification of states of focal seizures in the temporal regions some afflicted patients who were not relieved by anticonvulsant medication were given surgical therapy by Penfield and Flanigin TM in 1950 and by Bailey and Gibbs 3 in 1951. Subsequent long-term follow-up studies and confirmation of similar results by numerous other surgeons 2,4,7-9,i6,19 have established this method of treatment for clearly focal temporal epilepsy. The consensus of results is that at least two-thirds of patients have complete or very good relief from seizures
Antenna module with integrated scan-phase antenna diversity system for SDARS

A scan-phase multi-antenna diversity system is able to significantly improve reception performance of satellite digital audio radio systems (SDARS) in severe multipath propagation scenarios. The low hardware cost of such a system can only be achieved if a single level measurement circuitry is used for all antenna signals. In this paper the influences of switching between the antenna signals for level detection and the signal processing in the diversity system are studied for two different antenna diversity systems. A modification of the diversity hardware that avoids those influences is investigated. Measurements were performed to compare the modified and unmodified system in terms of audio availability. Test drives underneath dense foliage were conducted with a scan-phase antenna diversity system in combination with a diversity antenna set mounted on the dashboard of a car. This mounting position is of wide interest for example for convertibles, where the car roof is not available for the mounting of SDARS antennas. Measurement results show that the scan-phase antenna diversity system performs very well in such a disadvantageous antenna position. The diversity combination on the dashboard can compete with a roof-mounted patch antenna in the reception of geostationary satellite signals even with a closed roof.
Wide-angle Sea-Land connections as an integration of the CROP MARE II project

A report is given of the activity of the Sea Land Group(a) concerning the CROP MARE II seismic project. In this experiment, jointly with near-vertical seismic data acquisition (NVR), the Sea Land Group acquired high-density wide-angle reflection/refraction data (WARR) in some offshore/on-shore configurations along the Italian coast. A concise and complete overview is given of the acquisition scheme, the processing techniques used and the problems connected with the acquisition and management of this kind of data. Our experience led us to get over the standard processing techniques commonly adopted in WARR and NVR seismics, setting up innovative Matlab procedures for data processing. Such a development was directed at an integrated use of smalland great-offset seismic signals for the optimisation of imaging and modelling of lithospheric structures.