Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biomechanical Factors Associated With Time to Complete a Change of Direction Cutting Maneuver

Abstract Marshall, BM, Franklyn-Miller, AD, King, EA, Moran, KA, Strike, SC, and Falvey, ÉC. Biomechanical factors associated with time to complete a change of direction cutting maneuver. J Strength Cond Res 28(10): 2845–2851, 2014—Cutting ability is an important aspect of many team sports, however, the biomechanical determinants of cutting performance are not well understood. This study aimed to address this issue by identifying the kinetic and kinematic factors correlated with the time to complete a cutting maneuver. In addition, an analysis of the test-retest reliability of all biomechanical measures was performed. Fifteen (n = 15) elite multidirectional sports players (Gaelic hurling) were recruited, and a 3-dimensional motion capture analysis of a 75° cut was undertaken. The factors associated with cutting time were determined using bivariate Pearson's correlations. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to examine the test-retest reliability of biomechanical measures. Five biomechanical factors were associated with cutting time (2.28 ± 0.11 seconds): peak ankle power (r = 0.77), peak ankle plantar flexor moment (r = 0.65), range of pelvis lateral tilt (r = −0.54), maximum thorax lateral rotation angle (r = 0.51), and total ground contact time (r = −0.48). Intraclass correlation coefficient scores for these 5 factors, and indeed for the majority of the other biomechanical measures, ranged from good to excellent (ICC >0.60). Explosive force production about the ankle, pelvic control during single-limb support, and torso rotation toward the desired direction of travel were all key factors associated with cutting time. These findings should assist in the development of more effective training programs aimed at improving similar cutting performances. In addition, test-retest reliability scores were generally strong, therefore, motion capture techniques seem well placed to further investigate the determinants of cutting ability.
Spatial Externalities: Evidence on Social Interaction, Market Expansion and Mineral Extraction from Brazil and India

SAHA, SHUBHAYU. Spatial Externalities: Evidence on Social Interaction, Market Expansion and Mineral Extraction from Brazil and India. (Under the direction of Erin O. Sills). Various externalities embedded in human-environment interactions need to be accounted to assess the sustainability of environment and development policies. In this dissertation, I examine three such externalities related to – (i) information spillover regarding agricultural technology through social networks; (ii) integration of milk markets on pasture management choices; (iii) public health impacts of iron ore extraction. The land use and health outcomes I examine are of considerable current policy relevance, as (i) and (ii) are inextricably linked with deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, while (iii) deals with public health impacts of iron ore mining in India. The analyses is based on a combination of geo-referenced longitudinal household survey data, GIS data on market and road infrastructure, and classified land cover information from satellite images. The spatial information helps operationalize and quantify the externalities examined in each essay (i) specification of the reference group (both spatial neighbors and members in the social network) that could influence land use decisions of individual farmers; (ii) constructing distance-based measures between location of farmers and all milk plants, based on the assumption that diminishing distances between them over time indicates expansion of the milk market; (iii) distancebased metrics of proximity of households to iron ore mining areas as a proxy for exposure to environmental pollution from mines. The policy to support extension and dissemination of technology, credit and marketing through agricultural cooperatives is justified on the grounds that collective learning creates a multiplier effect that amplifies the adoption of desirable land use strategies. I find evidence in favor of endogenous social interaction effect, as land use decisions of other members in the social network based on common membership in agricultural cooperatives in the Brazilian Amazon are found to influence choices of individual farmers. If increased profit from cattle ranching is utilized in intensification of pastures rather than extensification, then policies to support the growth of dairy and beef markets could reduce the propensity of small farmers to deforest and migrate in the Amazon frontier. Though I find weak evidence in favor that expanded market opportunities encourage farmers to intensify, it has mostly followed extensive deforestation. While mines create short term employment benefits and long term development in public infrastructure, they also create negative externalities through pollution and environmental degradation. I find that the environmental health impacts of mines increase the incidence and workdays lost due to Acute Respiratory Illness, while the latter is true for Malaria. Spatial Externalities: Evidence on Social Interaction, Market Expansion and Mineral Extraction from Brazil and India
Bunyamwera Virus Nonstructural Protein NSs Counteracts Interferon Regulatory Factor 3-Mediated Induction of Early Cell Death

ABSTRACT The genome of Bunyamwera virus (BUN; family Bunyaviridae, genus Orthobunyavirus) consists of three segments of negative-sense RNA. The smallest segment, S, encodes two proteins, the nonstructural protein NSs, which is nonessential for viral replication and transcription, and the nucleocapsid protein N. Although a precise role in the replication cycle has yet to be attributed to NSs, it has been shown that NSs inhibits the induction of alpha/beta interferon, suggesting that it plays a part in counteracting the host antiviral defense. A defense mechanism to limit viral spread is programmed cell death by apoptosis. Here we show that a recombinant BUN that does not express NSs (BUNdelNSs) induces apoptotic cell death more rapidly than wild-type virus. Screening for apoptosis pathways revealed that the proapoptotic transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF-3) was activated by both wild-type BUN and BUNdelNSs infection, but only wild-type BUN was able to suppress signaling downstream of IRF-3. Studies with a BUN minireplicon system showed that active replication induced an IRF-3-dependent promoter, which was suppressed by the NSs protein. In a cell line (P2.1) defective in double-stranded RNA signaling due to low levels of IRF-3, induction of apoptosis was similar for wild-type BUN and BUNdelNSs. These data suggest that the BUN NSs protein can delay cell death in the early stages of BUN infection by inhibiting IRF-3-mediated apoptosis.
Valuing Employee Stock Options with Exogenous and Endogenous Early Exercise

This paper examines how forfeiture, vesting, and early exercise affect the value of employee stock options. The forfeiture and exogenous exercise of the options are modeled as two Poisson processes with constant intensity. Rational exercise by the employee due to the option's American feature is modeled as endogenous exercise. The Crank–Nicholson numerical method is used to solve for the resulting value of employee stock options. Results are consistent with the findings that the employee stock options are worth substantially less than the Black–Scholes formula value. The model demonstrates that the option holder would rationally exercise the option early even when the underlying stock pays no dividend. The model also provides results on the expected time to exercise of employee stock options and the expected exercise price relative to strike price. The method used in this paper is proposed as an alternative to the Black–Scholes formula for measuring fair market value of employee stock options for accounting and regulation purposes.
The influence of socioeconomic status on the reporting of regional and widespread musculoskeletal pain: results from the 1958 British Birth Cohort Study

Objective: This study aims to determine to what extent the reporting of pain in adulthood varies by adult socioeconomic status, whether there are additional long-term effects of socioeconomic status in childhood and whether any such relationships are mediated through adult psychological ill health. Methods: A prospective cohort study (the 1958 British Birth Cohort Study) was conducted. Participants were recruited, at birth, in 1958 and were followed-up throughout childhood and adulthood, most recently at 45 years when information was collected on regional and widespread pain, and various potential mediating factors. Results: The prevalence of shoulder, forearm, low back, knee and chronic widespread pain at 45 years generally increased with lower adult social class. Persons in the lowest social class (compared to the highest) experienced nearly a threefold increase in the risk of chronic widespread pain: relative risk: 2.9 (95% CI 1.8 to 4.6). The strength of association varied between 1.5 and 2.0 for regional pains. Childhood social class also demonstrated a relationship with most regional pains and chronic widespread pain. With the exception of forearm pain, the magnitude of effect of childhood social status on reporting of pain in adulthood was less than that of adult social status. On multivariable analysis these relationships were partly explained by poor adult mental health, psychological distress, adverse life events and lifestyle factors. Conclusions: These results emphasise the importance and potential impact of measures to reduce social adversity, which will have the effect of improving musculoskeletal health in adult life and other major causes of morbidity.
Variational approach in modal analysis

Modal analysis is a rigorous technique to handle steady-state voltage stability for large-scale power systems. In this method, participation factors are computed to identify critical buses, branches and generators in the system. This paper adopts a unified variational approach to calculate eigenvalue perturbation of power flow Jacobian matrix with respect to system parameters such as network elements or reactive loads. The results lead to the definition of a family of participation factors which are more symmetric, meaningful, and easier to compute than before. These participation factors are proved valuable and effective in the analysis of large-scale power systems, which is demonstrated in a sample study on South China power grid.
Symptoms elicited in persons with vestibular dysfunction while performing gaze movements in optic flow environments.

INTRODUCTION People with vestibular disorders often experience space and motion discomfort when exposed to moving or highly textured visual scenes. The purpose of this study was to measure the type and severity of symptoms in people with vestibular dysfunction during coordinated head and eye movements in optic flow environments. METHODS Seven subjects with vestibular disorders and 25 controls viewed four different full-field optic flow environments on six different visits. The optic flow environments consisted of textures with various contrasts and spatial frequencies. Subjects performed 8 gaze movement tasks, including eye saccades, gaze saccades, and gaze stabilization tasks. Subjects reported symptoms using Subjective Units of Discomfort (SUD) and the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ). Self-reported dizziness handicap and space and motion discomfort were also measured. RESULTS/CONCLUSION Subjects with vestibular disorders had significantly greater discomfort, oculomotor and disorientation symptoms, with some amount of symptoms in 55-60% of the trials, compared with control subjects, who had symptoms in less than 20% of the trials. The magnitude of the symptoms increased during each visit, but did not depend on the optic flow condition. Subjects who reported greater dizziness handicap and space and motion discomfort had greater severity of symptoms during the experiment (Spearman rho > 0.78). Compared with controls, subjects with vestibular disorders had about 10 deg less head excursion during the gaze saccade tasks. Overall, performance of gaze pursuit and gaze stabilization tasks in moving visual environments elicited greater symptoms in subjects with vestibular disorders compared with healthy subjects.
Prevalence and determinants of delayed gastric emptying in hospitalised Type 2 diabetic patients.

AIM To determine the prevalence of delayed gastric emptying (GE) in older patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS One hundred and forty seven patients with Type 2 diabetes, of whom 140 had been hospitalised, mean age 62.3 +/- 8.0 years, HbA1c 9.1% +/- 1.9%, treated with either oral hypoglycemic drugs or insulin were studied. GE of a solid meal (scintigraphy), autonomic nerve function, upper gastrointestinal symptoms, acute and chronic glycemic control were evaluated. Gastric emptying results were compared to a control range of hospitalised patients who did not have diabetes. RESULTS Gastric emptying was delayed (T50 > 85 min) in 17.7% patients. Mean gastric emptying was slower in females (T50 72.1 +/- 72.1 min vs 56.9 +/- 68.1 min, P = 0.02) and in those reporting nausea (112.3 +/- 67.3 vs 62.7 +/- 70.0 min, P < 0.01) and early satiety (114.0 +/- 135.2 vs 61.1 +/- 62.6 min, P = 0.02). There was no correlation between GE with age, body weight, duration of diabetes, neuropathy, current glycemia or the total score for upper gastrointestinal symptoms. CONCLUSION Prolonged GE occurs in about 20% of hospitalised elderly patients with Type 2 diabetes when compared to hospitalised patients who do not have diabetes. Female gender, nausea and early satiety are associated with higher probability of delayed GE.
Up close and personal: theorising care work in adult education

How do we account for the close personal bonds and deeply caring relationships forged by educators with learners in many adult educational encounters? The literature is relatively silent on the emotional and relational basis to adult educator work. This is a serious silence, given the stressful nature of adult education in developing contexts such as South Africa and the relative vulnerability of such educators. This article addresses this gap by exploring a range of theoretical and conceptual frameworks which may help navigate the relational and affective landscape of adult educator work as care work. Here the frameworks of African perspectives on learning, feminist perspectives on learning, expanded conceptions of transformative learning and Freire’s pedagogy of love are considered. The second part of the article shares some findings on adult educators’ emotional and relational bonds with learners from a study of the Human Rights Democracy and Development project and discusses these practices in light of the theories discussed. A summative table of the various frameworks together with a discussion of their implications for adult education practice, research and policy forms part of this latter section.
Two Essays in Finance and Economics: “Investment Opportunities in Commodity and Stock Markets for G7 Countries” And “Global and Local Factors Affecting Sovereign Yield Spreads”

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Transcriptional Repressor Germ Cell-less (GCL) and Barrier to Autointegration Factor (BAF) Compete for Binding to Emerin in Vitro *

Emerin belongs to the “LEM domain” family of nuclear proteins, which contain a characteristic ∼40-residue LEM motif. The LEM domain mediates direct binding to barrier to autointegration factor (BAF), a conserved 10-kDa chromatin protein essential for embryogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans. In mammalian cells, BAF recruits emerin to chromatin during nuclear assembly. BAF also mediates chromatin decondensation during nuclear assembly. The LEM domain and central region of emerin are essential for binding to BAF and lamin A, respectively. However, two other conserved regions of emerin lacked ascribed functions, suggesting that emerin could have additional partners. We discovered that these “unascribed” domains of emerin mediate direct binding to a transcriptional repressor, germ cell-less (GCL). GCL co-immunoprecipitates with emerin from HeLa cells. We determined the binding affinities of emerin for GCL, BAF, and lamin A and analyzed their oligomeric interactions. We showed that emerin forms stable complexes with either lamin A plus GCL or lamin A plus BAF. Importantly, BAF competed with GCL for binding to emerin in vitro, predicting that emerin can form at least two distinct types of complexes in vivo. Loss of emerin causes Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, a tissue-specific inherited disease that affects skeletal muscles, major tendons, and the cardiac conduction system. Although GCL alone cannot explain the disease mechanism, our results strongly support gene expression models for Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy by showing that emerin binds directly to a transcriptional repressor, GCL, and by suggesting that emerin-repressor complexes might be regulated by BAF. Biochemical roles for emerin in gene expression are discussed.
Cytokinin Signaling and Its Inhibitor AHP6 Regulate Cell Fate During Vascular Development

The cell lineages that form the transporting tissues (xylem and phloem) and the intervening pluripotent procambial tissue originate from stem cells near the root tip. We demonstrate that in Arabidopsis, cytokinin phytohormones negatively regulate protoxylem specification. AHP6, an inhibitory pseudophosphotransfer protein, counteracts cytokinin signaling, allowing protoxylem formation. Conversely, cytokinin signaling negatively regulates the spatial domain of AHP6 expression. Thus, by controlling the identity of cell lineages, the reciprocal interaction of cytokinin signaling and its spatially specific modulator regulates proliferation and differentiation of cell lineages during vascular development, demonstrating a previously unrecognized regulatory circuit underlying meristem organization.
Recursive Parametric Frequency/Spectrum Estimation for Nonstationary Signals With Impulsive Components Using Variable Forgetting Factor

This paper proposes a general and computationally efficient parametric model-based framework for recursive frequency/spectrum estimation and feature detection of nonstationary signals, which may contain different extents of nonstationarities and impulsive components. The estimation of time-varying frequency or spectrum is formulated as a time-varying linear model identification problem, where the spectral information is estimated from the model coefficients. We then employ a QR-decomposition-based recursive least M-estimate (QRRLM) algorithm for recursive estimation of the time-varying model coefficients in impulsive environment using M-estimation. New variable forgetting factor (VFF) schemes are developed to improve the tracking performance of the QRRLM method in nonstationary environment and we use theoretical derivation and simulations to prove that the proposed VFF schemes can approach the optimal VFF selection. The resultant VFF-QRRLM algorithm is able to restrain and isolate impulsive components whereas it is able to handle different extents of spectral variations. Simulation results show that the proposed VFF-QRRLM algorithm is more robust and accurate than conventional recursive least squares-based methods in estimating both time-varying narrowband frequency components and broadband spectral components with impulsive components. Potential applications of the proposed method can be found in power quality monitoring, online fault detection and speech analysis.
Determination of circulating DNA levels in patients with benign or malignant gastrointestinal disease

Previous studies showed that patients with neoplasms of various types and origins have abnormally high concentration of DNA in their serum. The current work compares circulating DNA levels in patients with benign or malignant disease of the gastrointestinal tract and determines the diagnostic value of such measurements. DNA was quantitated by radioimmunoassay capable of detecting 25 ng/ml, and as a simple and noninvasive test, it could be a useful addition to other diagnostic procedures. The GI tract was chosen because it affords a comparison of benign, precancerous, and malignant lesions of the same organ. Of the 386 patients studied prospectively, 48% had benign disease and mean DNA levels (±SE) of 118 ± 14 ng/ml, whereas 52% had malignant disease and 412 ± 63 ng DNA/ml. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The DNA assay showed the highest sensitivity for pancreas carcinoma: 90% of the patients had DNA levels above 100 ng/ml, chosen as the upper normal limit. Simultaneous measurements of both DNA and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) resulted in increased sensitivity and specificity, even when either marker alone had low sensitivity (gastric carcinoma). The results indicate that serum DNA concentration is markedly elevated in malignancy, and moderately elevated in benign disease, as compared with normal controls. These findings may have diagnostic and prognostic value.
Capturing the Natural Diversity of the Human Antibody Response against Vaccinia Virus

ABSTRACT The eradication of smallpox (variola) and the subsequent cessation of routine vaccination have left modern society vulnerable to bioterrorism employing this devastating contagious disease. The existing, licensed vaccines based on live vaccinia virus (VACV) are contraindicated for a substantial number of people, and prophylactic vaccination of large populations is not reasonable when there is little risk of exposure. Consequently, there is an emerging need to develop efficient and safe therapeutics to be used shortly before or after exposure, either alone or in combination with vaccination. We have characterized the human antibody response to smallpox vaccine (VACV Lister) in immunized volunteers and isolated a large number of VACV-specific antibodies that recognize a variety of different VACV antigens. Using this broad antibody panel, we have generated a fully human, recombinant analogue to plasma-derived vaccinia immunoglobulin (VIG), which mirrors the diversity and specificity of the human antibody immune response and offers the advantage of unlimited supply and reproducible specificity and activity. The recombinant VIG was found to display a high specific binding activity toward VACV antigens, potent in vitro VACV neutralizing activity, and a highly protective efficacy against VACV challenge in the mouse tail lesion model when given either prophylactically or therapeutically. Altogether, the results suggest that this compound has the potential to be used as an effective postexposure prophylaxis or treatment of disease caused by orthopoxviruses.