Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Body Composition of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Female Soccer Athletes through Competitive Seasons

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine body composition of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I female soccer players by position and season. One hundred seventy-five female athletes were categorized by positions of forward (n=47), midfielder (n=51), defender (n=57), and goalkeeper (n=20). A dual X-ray absorptiometry scan assessed percent body fat, total lean mass, total fat mass, arm and leg lean mass and fat mass, and visceral adipose tissue. Goalkeepers had significantly higher total, arm, and leg lean mass and fat mass compared to all other positions (p<0.05). For seasonal changes, body fat percentage was significantly higher in winter off-season (26.7%) compared to summer off-season (25.7%) and pre-season (25.8%; p<0.01) for all positions. Total and leg lean mass was significantly lower in winter off-season compared to all other seasons, and total lean mass was significantly higher in summer off-season than pre-season (p<0.01). Overall, goalkeepers were significantly different than all other positions. Body fat percentage increased and lean mass decreased in winter off-season indicating potential undesired changes in training and/or nutrition over the break whereas lean mass was the highest in summer off-season potentially reflecting the emphasis on resistance training and increased volume of training.
Therapists’ experience of training and implementing an exoskeleton in a rehabilitation centre

Abstract Background Lower limb exoskeletons are a recent intervention promoted to improve gait disorders. Available research has focused on clinical outcomes; however, little is known about therapists’ experiences using the device in practice. Purpose We explored the implementation of an exoskeleton at a tertiary rehabilitation center. Method In this longitudinal qualitative study we conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 therapists. One group of therapists was formally trained using the device, whereas the other group only had clinical exposure to the device. The interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed for themes. Results Three main themes emerged: (1) A steep learning curve described challenges in learning to use the exoskeleton. (2) One step at a time illustrated the complex process of incorporating the exoskeleton in daily work. (3) Not a magic bullet revealed the tensions using this emergent technology in practice. Conclusion The exoskeleton represents one of the most complicated and labor-intensive interventions provided by therapists. Implementation requires substantial resources, raising questions regarding its efficacy and cost-effectiveness relative to other approaches. Until more evidence becomes available around the use and effectiveness of this rapidly evolving technology, therapists must contend with a high degree of uncertainty. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Using a lower limb exoskeleton may reduce physical demands on therapists in high-intensity rehabilitation programs that involve repetitive, effortful movements. However, a number of potential barriers to implementing the exoskeleton into practice need to be taken into consideration, including calibration time, intensive training required to become qualified to administer the intervention, the cost of the device, and comfort and safety of the device affecting user acceptance and uptake. Therapists also need to manage patient expectations related to outcomes related to use of exoskeletons.
Allergic Anaphylactic Risk in Farming Activities: A Systematic Review

Allergic disorders in the agriculture sector are very common among farm workers, causing many injuries and occupational diseases every year. Agricultural employees are exposed to multiple conditions and various allergenic substances, which could be related to onset of anaphylactic reactions. This systematic review highlights the main clinical manifestation, the allergens that are mostly involved and the main activities that are usually involved. This research includes articles published on the major databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus), using a combination of keywords. The online search yielded 489 references; after selection, by the authors, 36 articles (nine reviews and 27 original articles) were analyzed. From this analysis, the main clinical problems that were diagnosed in this category were respiratory (ranging from rhinitis to asthma) and dermatological (eczema, dermatitis, hives) in nature, with a wide symptomatology (from a simple local reaction to anaphylaxis). The main activities associated with these allergic conditions are harvesting or cultivation of fruit and cereals, beekeepers and people working in greenhouses. Finally, in addition to the allergens already known, new ones have emerged, including triticale, wine, spider and biological dust. For these reasons, in the agricultural sector, research needs to be amplified, considering new sectors, new technologies and new products, and ensuring a system of prevention to reduce this risk.
Accelerated T2 Mapping of the Lumbar Intervertebral Disc

Objectives T2 mapping of the intervertebral disc (IVD) can depict quantitative changes reflecting biochemical change due to loss of glycosaminoglycan content. Conventional T2 mapping is usually performed using a 2-dimensional multi-echo-spin echo sequence (2D-MESE) with long acquisition times that are generally not compatible with clinical routine. This study investigates the applicability of GRAPPATINI, a T2 mapping sequence combining undersampling, model-based reconstruction, and parallel imaging, to offer clinically feasible acquisition times in T2 mapping of the lumbar IVD. Materials and Methods Fifty-eight individuals (26 female; mean age, 23.3 ± 8.1 years) were prospectively studied at 3 T. GRAPPATINI was conducted with the same parameters as the 2D-MESE while shortening the acquisition time from 13:18 to 2:27 minutes. The setup was also validated in a phantom experiment using a 6.48-hour-long single echo-spin echo sequence as reference. The IVDs were manually segmented on 4 central slices. Results The median nucleus pulposus showed a strong Pearson correlation coefficient between T2GRAPPATINI and T2MESE (rp = 0.919; P < 0.001). There was also a significant correlation for the ventral (rp = 0.241; P < 0.001) and posterior (rp = 0.418; P < 0.001) annular regions. In the single spin-echo phantom experiment, the most accurate T2 estimation was achieved using T2GRAPPATINI with a median absolute deviation of 15.3 milliseconds as compared with T2MESE with 26.5 milliseconds. Conclusions GRAPPATINI facilitates precise T2 mapping at 3 T in accordance with clinical standards and reference methods using the same parameters while shortening acquisition times from 13:18 to 2:27 minutes with the same parameters.
PGK1 inhibitor CBR-470-1 protects neuronal cells from MPP+

The neurotoxin MPP+ (1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion) disrupts mitochondrial function leading to oxidative stress and neuronal death. Here we examine whether activation of the Keap1-Nrf2 cascade can protect SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells from MPP+-induced cytotoxicity. Treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with CBR-470-1, an inhibitor of the glycolytic enzyme phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1), leads to methylglyoxal modification of Keap1, Keap1-Nrf2 disassociation, and increased expression of Nrf2 responsive genes. Pretreatment with CBR-470-1 potently attenuated MPP+-induced oxidative injury and SH-SY5Y cell apoptosis. CBR-470-1 neuroprotection is dependent upon Nrf2, as Nrf2 shRNA or CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Nrf2 knockout, abolished CBR-470-1-induced SH-SY5Y cytoprotection against MPP+. Consistent with these findings, PGK1 depletion or knockout mimicked CBR-470-1-induced actions and rendered SH-SY5Y cells resistant to MPP+-induced cytotoxicity. Furthermore, activation of the Nrf2 cascade by CRISPR/Cas9-induced Keap1 knockout protected SH-SY5Y cells from MPP+. In Keap1 or PGK1 knockout SH-SY5Y cells,CBR-470-1 failed to offer further cytoprotection against MPP+. Collectively PGK1 inhibition by CBR-470-1 protects SH-SY5Y cells from MPP+ via activation of the Keap1-Nrf2 cascade.
Simple Parameter-Free Bridge Functionals for Molecular Density Functional Theory. Application to Hydrophobic Solvation.

Computer simulations have been substantial in understanding the fine details of hydrophobic solvation and hydrophobic interactions. Alternative approaches based on liquid-state theories have been proposed, but are not yet at the same degree of completeness and accuracy. In this vein, a classical, molecular density functional theory approach to hydrophobic solvation is introduced. The lowest, second-order approximation of the theory, equivalent to the hypernetted chain approximation in integral equations, fails in describing correctly cavitation free-energies. It is corrected here by two simple, angular-independent, so-called bridge functionals; they are parameter-free in the sense that all variables can be fixed unambiguously from the water bulk properties, including pressure, isothermal compressibility, and liquid-gas surface tension. A hard-sphere bridge functional, based on the known functional of a reference hard fluid system, turns out to face strong limitations for water. A simpler weighted density approximation is shown to properly reproduce the solvation free energy of hydrophobes of various sizes, from microscopic ones to the nanoscale, and predicting the solvation free-energy of a dataset of more than 600 model hydrophobic molecules having a variety of shapes and sizes with an accuracy of a quarter of kBT compared to Monte-Carlo simulations values. It constitutes an excellent starting point for a general functional describing accurately both hydrophobic and hydrophilic solvation, and making it possible to study non-idealized hydrophobic interactions.
Variability in patient sociodemographics, clinical characteristics, and healthcare service utilization among 107,302 treatment seeking smokers in Ontario: A cross-sectional comparison

Background Since 2005, the Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients (STOP) program has provided smoking cessation treatment of varying form and intensity to smokers through 11 distinct treatment models, either in-person at partnering healthcare organizations or remotely via web or telephone. We aimed to characterize the patient populations reached by different treatment models. Methods We linked self-report data to health administrative databases to describe sociodemographics, physical and mental health comorbidity, healthcare utilization and costs. Our sample consisted of 107,302 patients who enrolled between 18Oct2005 and 31Mar2016, across 11 models operational during different time periods. Results Patient populations varied on sociodemographics, comorbidity burden, and healthcare usage. Enrollees in the Web-based model were youngest (median age: 39; IQR: 29–49), and enrollees in primary care-based Family Health Teams were oldest (median: 51; IQR: 40–60). Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and hypertension were the most common physical health comorbidities, twice as prevalent in Family Health Teams (32.3% and 30.8%) than in the direct-to-smoker (Web and Telephone) and Pharmacy models (13.5%-16.7% and 14.7%-17.7%). Depression, the most prevalent mental health diagnosis, was twice as prevalent in the Addiction Agency (52.1%) versus the Telephone model (25.3%). Median healthcare costs in the two years up to enrollment ranged from $1,787 in the Telephone model to $9,393 in the Addiction Agency model. Discussion While practitioner-mediated models in specialized and primary care settings reached smokers with more complex healthcare needs, alternative settings appear better suited to reach younger smokers before such comorbidities develop. Although Web and Telephone models were expected to have fewer barriers to access, they reached a lower proportion of patients in rural areas and of lower socioeconomic status. Findings suggest that in addition to population-based strategies, embedding smoking cessation treatment into existing healthcare settings that reach patient populations with varying disparities may enhance equitable access to treatment.
DNA Damage Response to Ionizing Radiation Defective in the Invasive Cancer Phenotype

The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in DNA damage responses (DDRs) between immortalized normal prostate epithelial cells (PrEC) and prostate cancer cells (DU145). To study the DDRs, two protein markers were used. The first, phosphorylated KRAB Associated Protein 1 (pKAP-1) activates target genes involved in the DDR. The second, phosphorylated H2AX (pH2AX) is required for the assembly of damaged chromatin as well as for activation of checkpoints proteins. Ionizing Radiation (IR) was used to induce DNA damage. Flow Cytometry and Western Blot analyses were used to measure the levels of the proteins when exposed to various doses of IR (0, 2, 4, 8 Gy). In both cell lines, there was a clear dose dependent increase in pH2AX and pKAP-1, however error bars showed that with the pH2AX protein, only the later doses showed significant differences. Fluorescence staining was used to examine the localization of the proteins. Both cell lines showed punctate staining of pH2AX in the nuclei at 8Gy and no staining in unirradiated cells. With pKAP-1, the PrEC cells had punctate staining in the nuclei with 8Gy of radiation whereas the DU145 cells had a diffuse pattern in the nucle
Efficacy of exercises in improving the quality of life for chronic kidney disease patients without dialysis

Rahimimoghadam Z 2018 Iran 1 CKD stages 2 to 3 Modified classical Pilates exercises three times a week over a 12-week period (n=25) Routine care (n=25) 12 weeks Quality of life KDQOL-SF Baseline 12 weeks later 2 months after the intervention Rossi AP 2014 Portland 1 CKD stages 3 to 4 Renal rehabilitation exercise intervention consisting of usual care plus guided exercise two times per week for 12 weeks (n=59) Usual care (n=48) 12 weeks Physical function;
Extracellular vesicles secreted by HBV-infected cells modulate HBV persistence in hydrodynamic HBV transfection mouse model

Hepatitis B, a viral infection that affects the liver, is thought to affect over 257 million people worldwide, and long-term infection can lead to life-threatening issues such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. Chronic hepatitis B develops by the interaction between hepatitis B virus (HBV) and host immune response. However, questions of how HBV-infected cells thwart immune system defenses remain unanswered. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are used for cellular communication, carrying cargoes such as RNAs, proteins, and lipids and delivering them intracellularly after being endocytosed by target cells. HBV-infected liver cells secrete several types of EVs into body fluids such as complete and incomplete virions, and exosomes. We previously demonstrated that monocytes that incorporated EVs moved to immunoregulatory phenotypes via up-regulation of PD-L1, an immunocheckpoint molecule, and down-regulation of CD69, a leukocyte activation molecule. In this study, we transfected mice with HBV using hydrodynamic injection and studied the effects of EVs secreted by HBV-infected liver cells. EVs secreted from cells with HBV replication strongly suppressed the immune response, inhibiting the eradication of HBV-replicating cells in the mice transfected with HBV. EVs were systemically incorporated in multiple organs, including liver, bone marrow (BM), and intestine. Intriguingly, the BM cells that incorporated EVs acquired intestinal tropism and the dendritic cell populations in the intestine increased. These findings suggest that the EVs secreted by HBV-infected liver cells exert immunosuppressive functions, and that an association between the liver, bone marrow, and intestinal tract exists through EVs secreted from HBV-infected cells.
Spatial dynamics of female snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) in the eastern Bering Sea

Snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) migrations in the eastern Bering Sea have long been ignored. Based on preliminary information, we hypothesized that females undergo an extensive ontogenetic migration, tracking down environmental gradients. We analyzed a 25-year time series of survey data and defined ontogenetic stages in terms of a "shell condition index" calibrated with radiochemical methods. "Pseudo-cohorts" of mature females (groups of females that undergo puberty molt in a given year) "recruit" to the mature female pool in the Middle Domain (50100 m) of the intermediate shelf. Females undergo puberty molt and primiparous mating in winter. Over the next year, they migrate an average net distance of 73.5 nautical miles towards the shelf edge following a predominantly northeastsouthwest direction. Maximum post-terminal molt life span is 67 years. Results support the hypothesis that the variable tracked is near-bottom temperature. Although near-bottom temperature fields vary from year to year, the corre.
Arthropod Infestation Levels on Mandarins in California

Abstract Integrated pest management (IPM) guidelines for horticulture are typically established from years of experimental research and experience for a crop species. Ecoinformatics methods can help to quickly adapt these guidelines following major changes in growing practices. Citrus production in California is facing several major challenges, one of which is a shift away from sweet oranges [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck Sapindales: Rutaceae] toward mandarins (including mostly cultivars of C. reticulata Blanco and C. clementina hort. ex Tanaka). In the absence of IPM guidelines for mandarins, growers are relying on pest information developed from oranges. We mined a database of management records from commercial growers and consultants to determine densities for four arthropod pests: cottony cushion scale (Icerya purchasi Maskell Hemiptera: Monophlebidae), citricola scale (Coccus pseudomagnoliarum Kuwana Hemiptera: Coccidae), European earwig (Forficula auricularia Linnaeus Dermaptera: Forficulidae), citrus red mite (Panonychus citri McGregor Acari: Tetranychidae), and a natural enemy, predatory mites in the genus Euseius (Congdon Acarina: Phytoseiidae). Densities of cottony cushion scale were approximately 10–40 times higher in the two most commonly grown mandarin species than in sweet oranges, suggesting this pest is reaching outbreak levels more often on mandarins. Densities of the other pests and predatory mites did not differ significantly across citrus species. This is a first step toward establishing IPM guidelines for mandarins for these pests; more research is needed to determine how arthropod densities relate to crop performance in mandarins.
A Multidisciplinary Approach for Improving Quality of Life and Self-Management in Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Crossover Study

Individuals with diabetic kidney disease are at high risk of complications and challenged to self-manage. Previous research suggested that multidisciplinary approaches would improve health outcomes. This study investigated the effect of a multidisciplinary self-management approach of diabetic kidney disease on quality of life, and self-management, glycemic control, and renal function. A uniform balanced crossover design was used because it attains a high level of statistical power with a lower sample size. A total of 32 participants (aged 67.8 ± 10.8) were randomized into four study arms. In differing sequences, each participant was treated twice with three months of usual care alternated with three months of multidisciplinary management. The intervention improved the present dimension of quality of life demonstrating higher mean rank as compared to usual care (52.49 vs. 41.01; p = 0.026, 95% CI) and three self-care activities, general diet habits, diabetes diet habits, and blood sugar testing (respectively: 55.43 vs. 38.31; p = 0.002, 56.84 vs. 37.02; p = 0.000, 53.84 vs. 39.77; p = 0.008; 95% CI). Antihypertensive medication engagement was high across the study period (Mean = 95.38%, Min = 69%, Max = 100%). Glycemic control and renal function indicators were similar for the intervention and the usual care. Studies are needed to determine how the new recommended therapies for diabetic kidney disease such as SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists impact on self-management and quality of life.
Purification, characterization and mode of action of PdhR, the transcriptional repressor of the pdhR–aceEF–Ipd operon of Escherichia coli

The repressor of the pdhR–aceEF–lpd operon of Escherichia coli, PdhR, was amplified to 23% of total cell protein and purified to homogeneity by heparin–agarose and catlon‐exchange chromatography. The purified protein is a monomer (Mr 29300) which binds specifically to DNA fragments containing the pdh promoter (Ppdh) in the absence of pyruvate. The pdh operator was identified by DNase I footprinting as a region of hyphenated dyad symmetry, +11AATTGGTaagACCAATT+27, situated just downstream of the transcript start site. In vitro transcription from Ppdh was repressed > 1000‐fold by PdhR and this repression was antagonized in a concentration‐dependent manner by its co‐effector, pyruvate. Studies on RNA polymerase binding at Ppdh showed that RNA polymerase protects the ‐44 to +21 region in the absence of PdhR, but no RNA polymerase binding or protection upstream of +9 could be detected in the presence of PdhR. It is concluded that PdhR represses transcription by binding to an operator site centred at +19 such that effective binding of RNA polymerase is prevented.
Gender Assignment of Westland Petrels (Procellaria westlandica) Using Linear Discriminant Function Analysis

Abstract Rapid classification of a study subject's gender is critical for many ecological, behavioral, and conservation projects. We evaluated sexual-size dimorphism of adult Westland Petrels (Procellaria westlandica), a large nocturnal colony-nesting seabird, using linear discriminant function analysis and compared our results to birds classified using standard DNA gender identification techniques. The results revealed a strong pattern of sexual dimorphism (Wilks' Lambda = 0.43, F7,29 = 5.6, P < 0.001) in the standard discriminant function analysis despite an unbalanced sex ratio in our sample of adults captured at the breeding colony. Minimum bill depth and head length, of the seven morphometric characters we measured, successfully assigned the correct gender to 95% of all individuals sampled (n = 37). We provide a canonical classification function of morphological traits that may be used in the field to rapidly differentiate adult females and males of this rare petrel species.
Validation of the Driver Behavior Questionnaire in a Representative Sample of Iranian Drivers

The Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ) is widely used around the world to investigate driving behaviours. However, it has several different versions extracted from the 50-items Manchester driver behaviour questionnaire for variety of societies. This study aims to calibrate the DBQ for the Iranian driver population and explore their aberrant driver behaviour. In total, 524 participants (325 men and 199 women) between the ages of 18 and 79 years from different cities of Iran with more than one million populations were engaged in this study (Tehran, Mashhad, Esfahan, Qom, Tabriz, Karaj, Ahvaz, Shiraz). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with varimax rotation extracts four-factor that describes the aberrant driver behaviours: violations, dangerous errors, lapses, and aggressive behaviours. A short version of DBQ with 20 items is also developed on the same four factors using high factor loading of each of the axis categories. This DBQ can serve as an instrument of driver self-assessment and can use with other self-reporting measures. For reliability assessment, the Cronbach’s alpha test (α) is conducted for both long and short version of the questionnaire. Finally, regression analysis predicts the factor scores using demographic and some general questions.