Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of strength training under hypoxic conditions on muscle performance, body composition and haematological variables

The addition of a hypoxic stimulus during resistance training is suggested to increase the metabolic responses, enhancing hypertrophy and muscle strength. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of resistance training performed at submaximal intensities combined with normobaric hypoxia on muscular performance, body composition and haematological parameters. Thirty-two untrained subjects participated in this study (weight: 74.68±12.89 kg; height: 175±0.08 cm; BMI: 24.28±3.80 kg/m2). They were randomized to two groups: hypoxia (FiO2 = 13%) or normoxia (FiO2 = 20.9%). The training programme lasted 7 weeks (3 d/w) and several muscle groups were exercised (3 sets x 65−80% 1RM to failure). Measurements were taken before, after the training and after a 3-week detraining period. Body composition and muscle mass were assessed through skinfolds and muscle girths. Muscle strength was evaluated by the 1RM estimated test. Finally, haemoglobin and haematocrit were taken from the antecubital vein. Both groups improved their strength performance and muscle perimeters, but the hypoxia group obtained a greater increase in muscle mass (hypoxia: +1.80% vs. normoxia: +0.38%; p<0.05) and decrease in fat mass (hypoxia: -6.83% vs. normoxia: +1.26%; p<0.05) compared to the normoxia group. Additionally, haematocrit values were also higher for the hypoxia group after the detraining period (hypoxia: +2.20% vs. normoxia: -2.22%; p<0.05). In conclusion, resistance training under hypoxic conditions could increase muscle mass and decrease fat mass more effectively than training performed in normoxia, but without contributing to greater muscle strength.
An investigation into the genetic architecture of multiple system atrophy and familial Parkinson's disease

Within the past decade, significant genetic underpinnings of devastating neurological disorders including Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) have all been illuminated through advanced genomic technologies. Such discoveries have been facilitated by genome wide association (GWA) studies and next generation sequencing (NGS) investigations in order to identify common variants and rare variants, respectively, which contribute to disease risk. This thesis aims to extend these analyses to an understudied disease, multiple system atrophy (MSA), and to investigate the genetic basis of an apparent cluster of PD cases in Greece. Thus, I plan to accomplish three main goals in my thesis: First, I would like to determine if common variants are associated with MSA risk through heritability analysis and if so, can these be identified through imputation of GWA study data using greater than 900 sporadic MSA cases. While common variants harboring an association with MSA may be either protective or deleterious, any significant findings will yield insight into the pathogenesis of disease. Secondly, I would to identify candidate variants and gene-based variability that are associated with MSA using next generation sequencing in approximately 415 samples, about half of which are pathologically confirmed. Ideally, these will be putative causal variants that will shed light on the molecular mechanisms of disease and potential for therapeutic design in the future. However, it is feasible that such rare variants may modulate risk for MSA development. Because MSA is a rare disease systematic investigation of the genetic basis of this disease has been challenging; the cohorts studied are small and thus lack power. Hence, the goal of this work is to produce rational evidence based candidate genes and variants for validation and replication by the MSA research community. This will be a cardinal step towards our understanding of the genetic basis of this severely debilitating and fatal neurodegenerative disorder. Thirdly, I would like to further explore the genetic architecture of Parkinson’s disease among a large Greek kindred that we believe has maintained a high degree of genetic isolation for the last several centuries. While we have identified several risk factors and causal variants associated with Parkinson’s disease, heritability estimates suggest that other genetic variants remain to be found. By utilizing some of the most advanced technological approaches in genetics, I hope to elucidate a missing piece of the puzzle in the etiology and molecular underpinnings of this devastating disease.
Background styles in systematic review articles: a cross-sectional study protocol

The background section of a medical journal article has the important function to communicate readers the value of the research question. However, little is known about how authors describe their “niche” to emphasize the importance of their research question. This study aims to examine the methods the authors use in order to delineate their niche in systematic reviews (SR). We will conduct a cross-sectional study. We will include Original SR articles published in top 50 journals in MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL category in Journal Citation Reports 2018. We will conduct content analysis of background sections. The primary outcome will be whether the article was published in top 10 journal or not. We will use chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis. The primary analysis will be logistic regression predicting publication in high impact journals, with covariates. Two-tailed p values will be considered statistically significant if less than 0.05. Discussion: This is the first study to investigate the influence of what to present and not present in the backgrounds section to be accepted in the highly cited journals among SR articles.
A model of policing strategy choice

The purpose of this paper is to develop a method for the discovery of knowledge in emergency response databases based on police incident reports, generating information that identifies local criminal demands that allow the selection of the appropriate policing strategies portfolio to solve the problem. ,The developed model uses a methodology for the discovery of knowledge involving text mining techniques using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) integrated with the ELECTRE I multicriteria method. ,The developed method allowed the identification of the most common criminal demands that occurred from January 1 to December 31, 2016, in the policing areas studied. One of the crimes does not occur homogeneously in a particular locality. In this study, it was initially observed that 40 per cent of the crimes identified in the Integrated Public Safety Area 5, or AISP-5, (historical city center of RJ) had no correlation with AISP-19 (Copacabana - RJ), and 33 per cent of crimes crimes in AISP-19 were not identified in AISP-5. This finding guided the second part of the method that sought to identify which portfolio of policing strategies would be most appropriate for the identified demands. In this sense, using the ELECTRE I method, eight different scenarios were constructed where it can be identified that for each specific criminal demand set there is a set of policing strategies to be applied. ,The collected data represent the social dynamics of neighbourhoods in the central and southern zones of the city of Rio de Janeiro during the specific period from January 2013 to December 2016. This limitation implies that the results cannot be generalised to areas with different characteristics. ,The developed methodology contributes in a complementary way to the identification of criminal practices and their characteristics based on reports of police occurrences stored in emergency response databases. The knowledge generated through the identification of criminal demands allows law enforcement decision makers to evaluate and choose among the available policing strategies, which best suit the reality they study, and produce the reduction of criminal indices. ,It is possible to infer that by choosing appropriate strategies to combat local crime, the proposed model will increase the population’s sense of safety through an effective reduction in crime. ,The originality of the study lies in the integration of text mining techniques, LDA and the ELECTRE I method for detecting crime in a given location based on crime reports stored in emergency response databases, enabling identification and choice, from customized policing strategies to particular criminal demands.
Assessing Generic Competence Development among Higher Education Students

Present study intended to assess the generic competences of higher education students. Self-perceived level of generic competences of the students in the beginning and the end of an academic session was recorded to explore the role of higher education in imparting them the generic competences. All the students entering the University of Sargodha (Pakistan) during 2012, constituted the population of the study. Cluster sampling technique was used to carry out the panel survey. The same cohort of the students was surveyed twice over a period of one academic year. This study adopted a version of the Reflex Project instrument, consisting of 19 competences, to collect data from students of both genders in public-sector universities in Pakistan. Data were collected from 932 students (cluster sampling) studying at 10 (randomly) selected departments. There were 408 male and 525 female students in the study. The students rated themselves on a seven-point scale whose reliability was 0.82. The results indicated that higher education played its role in imparting and promoting the existing set of generic competences from the beginning to the end of the academic session; but the increase in the competence level was noted only to a modest level. Gender differences were found among the students in a few of the generic competences.
Distributions and interactions of co-occurring estuarine foundation species : seagrasses, seaweeds, and shell-forming organisms.

Globally, freshwater, marine, and estuarine environments share some functionally similar foundation species, such as slow-growing clonal angiosperms, faster growing solitary macroalgae, and shell-forming bivalves. Despite their trait differences these taxa all modify ambient environmental conditions and create habitat, thereby increasing biodiversity. Furthermore, these foundation species often coexist and interact, potentially facilitating or inhibiting each other, and may therefore also have cascading positive or negative impacts on other species. Understanding the magnitude and direction of these interactions is important for restoration and conservation ecologists and scientists. Here I provide a quantitative review and meta-analysis of 96 experiments published in 82 scientific papers that tested two-way interactions between angiosperms (seagrasses and freshwater species), macroalgae, and bivalves. I first identified research gaps and biases, showing that not a single study was reported from South America, and that only three experiments were of longer duration than two years. Furthermore, experiments from freshwater systems were scarce (9%) and few (4%) addressed bivalve-macroalgae interactions. In the meta-analysis I found negative effects of macroalgae, positive effects of bivalves, and no net effect of angiosperms on other foundation species, and that small foundation species (based on maximum size in each organism category) were affected more negatively than larger foundation species. These findings were robust across experimental duration, geographical latitudes, ecosystem types, and experimental conditions, except that the negative effect from macroalgae was more severe in laboratory compared to field experiments. This review and meta-analysis aims to stimulate new research that targets the identified research gaps and provides scientists and managers an overview of the effects of these important aquatic foundation species.
Developing Mobile Learning Media Integrated of Problem Based Learning In Chemical Equilibrium Materials at Unimed Chemical Education Study Program

— This study aimed to understand level of feasibility of learning media mobile learning for special topic of chemical equilibrium; and to know the differences of the improvement learning outcomes of students is problem based learning in learning chemical equilibrium studied by using media of Mobile Learning developed with power -point. It used R & D method (Development Research) with model ADDIE. Sample selection using purposive sampling technique. The population in this study were college student S-1 of semester II of chemistry education study program taking elementary chemistry courses even semester 2018/2019 at State University of Medan. The sample in this research are two classes in the basic course chemistry of FMIPA UNIMED department semester 2 which have 25 students for each class. The research instruments are motivation questionnaire and objective test. Data were analyzed using descriptive method and statistical analysis with independent sample t-test. The result showed that: (1) the developed learning media of Mobile Learning was categorized with feasible to used but still needs to be revised and developed, (2) there was the difference improvement learning outcomes of students (N-gain of students) for special topic of chemical equilibrium that learned using media of Mobile Learning which had been developed in experimental class I was found higher than that in experimental class IIwith power-point media ( 74% > 63%).
Impact of Nypa Palm (Nypa fruticans Wurmb) and Mangroves Forest on Benthic Macro Invertebrate Community in Andoni River, Nigeria

It is postulated that the presence of nypa palm (Nypa palm) in mangrove forest affect the reproductive function of fish by inhibiting the growth of macro invertebrates. The impact of Nypa fruticans (Wurmb) and mangroves on the benthic macro invertebrate community of Andoni River was carried out between January and August, 2017. A total of four stations were chosen based on nypa palm and native mangrove species’ presence and absence, station 1 (Open water), Station 2 (Nypa palm dominance), station 3 (Rhizophora and Avicennia dominance), Station 4 (Mixed). Results of water quality parameters include; pH 6.99±0.16, Temperature 28.20±0.05°C, DO 4.71±0.18mg/L, Conductivity 19.52±0. 20µm/s, Salinity 10.76±0.07ppt, TDS 13.45±0.27ppt. Mean values of the physico-chemical parameters (P > 0.05) were not significantly different. Twelve taxa of benthic macro-invertebrates in eleven families were collected. The crustaceans were more in diversity (38.46%), while bivalvia, pisces and oligochaete had the least percentage composition (7.69%). The gastropods were more in species dominance (44.69%), while the Oligochaeta were least in abundance (0.61%). Shannon Weiner’s index across the stations for benthos was highest in station 2 (1.840) and lowest in station 1 (1.103). Simpson’s index was highest in station 2 (1.990) and lowest in station 1 (1.938). Pielou’s index of evenness was highest in station 2 (0.767) and lowest in station 1 (0.616). All the macro-invertebrates recorded were clean water and pollution tolerant species, and showed no significant difference across stations (P>0.05). In conclusion this study indicates that nypa palm does not affect the proliferation of macro invertebrates, which supports fishery population along the food chain.
Pure Chinese medicine preparation

The pure Chinese medicine preparation for preventing and curing main virus diseases (ND/IBD) of chicken with obvious effect is made up by using 9 Chinese medicinal materials of astragalus root, isatis root, houttuynia, pulsatilla root, coptis root and others. It can be used as additive of chicken feed or drinking water.
Current technologies to endotoxin detection and removal for biopharmaceutical purification

Endotoxins are the major contributors to the pyrogenic response caused by contaminated pharmaceutical products, formulation ingredients, and medical devices. Recombinant biopharmaceutical products are manufactured using living organisms, including Gram‐negative bacteria. Upon the death of a Gram‐negative bacterium, endotoxins (also known as lipopolysaccharides) in the outer cell membrane are released into the lysate where they can interact with and form bonds with biomolecules, including target therapeutic compounds. Endotoxin contamination of biologic products may also occur through water, raw materials such as excipients, media, additives, sera, equipment, containers closure systems, and expression systems used in manufacturing. The manufacturing process is, therefore, in critical need of methods to reduce and remove endotoxins by monitoring raw materials and in‐process intermediates at critical steps, in addition to final drug product release testing. This review paper highlights a discussion on three major topics about endotoxin detection techniques, upstream processes for the production of therapeutic molecules, and downstream processes to eliminate endotoxins during product purification. Finally, we have evaluated the effectiveness of endotoxin removal processes from a perspective of high purity and low cost.
Interaction Techniques for Visual Exploration Using Embedded Word-Scale Visualizations

We describe a design space of view manipulation interactions for small data-driven contextual visualizations (word-scale visualizations). These interaction techniques support an active reading experience and engage readers through exploration of embedded visualizations whose placement and content connect them to specific terms in a document. A reader could, for example, use our proposed interaction techniques to explore word-scale visualizations of stock market trends for companies listed in a market overview article. When readers wish to engage more deeply with the data, they can collect, arrange, compare, and navigate the document using the embedded word-scale visualizations, permitting more visualization-centric analyses. We support our design space with a concrete implementation, illustrate it with examples from three application domains, and report results from two experiments. The experiments show how view manipulation interactions helped readers examine embedded visualizations more quickly and with less scrolling and yielded qualitative feedback on usability and future opportunities.
Accounts of Thriving in the Face of Discrimination for Latina/o Undergraduate Students

ABSTRACT Latina/o undergraduate students face many challenges, including campus climate and ethnic discrimination, which are tied to mental health problems and lower academic achievement. While always difficult, many students have reported a growth in awareness and determination afterward. Thriving or being “better off” after an adversity focuses on such perceived gains. This study explores the experiences of Latina/o undergraduate with discrimination and thriving. Semi-structured interview themes of Growth Related to Thriving were identified using Thematic Analysis.
Towards a multilayered and multidimensional analysis of multilingual education: ideologies of multilingualism and language planning in Chinese higher education

ABSTRACT Against the backdrop of the Belt and Road Initiative, the study reports on the ideological construction of multilingualism in higher education in mainland China. Through a new methodological approach combining intertextual discourse analysis and thematic analysis, this paper concentrates on the interplay of ideologies towards multilingualism between the macro-(national/provincial) and meso-(institutional) levels. We examine 22 political texts issued by agents of different levels, and sixteen paratexts containing language issues discussed by educational administrators and language education experts. The analysis of the texts reveals that there is a gap between the two levels in terms of the variety and connotation of terms related to foreign languages. The analysis of the paratexts identifies three categories of recurring values of languages and four categories of benefits from foreign language (education), among which the pragmatic value of foreign languages for national development is the most significant. Moreover, institutional agents mentioned the instrumental value of languages for personal development and their global cultural value. The multiple perspectives on multilingual education in the Chinese context demonstrate the complexities of the ideological construction of multilingualism in this early phase of diversifying multilingual higher education, which generate important implications for policy makers in China and other countries.
Compact eight‐port MIMO/diversity antenna with band rejection characteristics

A new compact three‐dimensional multiple‐input‐multiple‐output (MIMO) antenna comprised of eight antenna elements is presented. The unit cell of the proposed MIMO/diversity antenna consists of three elliptical rings connected together in the region close to the feed line and a rectangular‐shaped modified ground plane. To achieve polarization diversity with the proposed eight‐port MIMO configuration, four antenna elements are horizontally arranged and the remaining four are vertically oriented. The proposed antenna has an impedance bandwidth (S11 < −10 dB) of 25.68 GHz (3.1‐28.78 GHz) with a wireless local area network notch‐band at 5.8 GHz (5.2‐6.5 GHz). In addition to polarization diversity, the proposed antenna provides a reliable link with wireless devices. The prototype antenna design is fabricated and measured for diversity performance. Also, the proposed MIMO antenna provides good performance metrics such as apparent diversity gain, channel capacity loss, envelope correlation coefficient, isolation, mean effective gain, multiplexing efficiency, and total active reflection coefficient.
Furfural: A Sustainable Platform Chemical and Fuel

Furfural is produced from lignocellulose-biomass enriched with pentose derivatives. It is a precursor of furan-based chemicals and has the potential to become a green platform chemical. This review presents and compares the different routes and recent trends furfural production and utilization. Conventional process of furfural production from lignocellulosic biomass, especially cellulose pulp, had low conversion rate and produced lots of unused by-products. Thus, the production in industrial scale was impeded with economical feasibility. While, the recent production technologies were focused on the utilization of the feedstock and improvement of the process economics by co-production of other high value products and furfural derivatives. Regarding to the current situation, the fuel production from non-renewable fossil sources becomes more interesting to worldwide society due to the environmental concern. Furfural and its derivatives are selected chemicals to be used as alternative feedstock to substitute the use of fossil fuels. Nowadays, the improvements on production technology and process are still necessary to compete with petroleum-based products in term of economic aspects.
Genetic deletion of Autotaxin from CD11b+ cells decreases the severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Autotaxin (ATX) is a secreted lysophospholipase D catalyzing the extracellular production of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a growth factor-like signaling lysophospholipid. ATX and LPA signaling have been incriminated in the pathogenesis of different chronic inflammatory diseases and various types of cancer. In this report, deregulated ATX and LPA levels were detected in the spinal cord and plasma of mice during the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Among the different sources of ATX expression in the inflamed spinal cord, F4/80+CD11b+ cells, mostly activated macrophages and microglia, were found to express ATX, further suggesting an autocrine role for ATX/LPA in their activation, an EAE hallmark. Accordingly, ATX genetic deletion from CD11b+ cells attenuated the severity of EAE, thus proposing a pathogenic role for the ATX/LPA axis in neuroinflammatory disorders.