Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of short‐term heat acclimation with permissive dehydration on thermoregulation and temperate exercise performance

We examined the effect of short‐term heat acclimation with permissive dehydration (STHADe) on heat acclimation (HA) and cycling performance in a temperate environment. Ten trained male cyclists [mean (SD) maximal oxygen uptake: 63.3(4.0) mL/kg/min; peak power output (PPO): 385(40) W; training: 10 (3) h/week] underwent a STHADe program consisting of 5 days of exercise (maximum 90 min/day) in a hot environment (40 °C, 50% RH) to elicit isothermic heat strain [rectal temperature 38.64(0.27) °C]. Participants abstained from fluids during, and 30 min after, HA sessions. Pre‐ and post‐STHADe HA was evaluated during euhydrated fixed‐intensity exercise (60 min) in hot conditions; the effect of STHADe on thermoregulation was also examined under temperate conditions (20 min fixed‐intensity exercise; 22 °C, 60% RH). Temperate cycling performance was assessed by a graded exercise test (GXT) and 20‐km time trial (TT). STHADe reduced thermal and cardiovascular strain in hot and temperate environments. Lactate threshold [Δ = 16 (17) W] and GXT PPO [Δ = 6 (7) W] were improved following STHADe (P < 0.05), but TT performance was not affected (P > 0.05), although there was a trend for a higher mean power (P = 0.06). In conclusion, STHADE can reduce thermal and cardiovascular strain under hot and temperate conditions and there is some evidence of ergogenic potential for temperate exercise, but longer HA regimens may be necessary for this to meaningfully influence performance.
Age‐ and division‐of‐labour‐dependent differential expression of a novel non‐coding RNA, Nb‐1, in the brain of worker honeybees, Apis mellifera L.

To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying honeybee social behaviours, we identified a novel gene, Nb‐1, whose expression in the worker brain changes according to the age‐dependent division of labour in normal colonies. The open reading frames contained in the Nb‐1 cDNA were not conserved in the homologue of a related species, suggesting that the Nb‐1 gene product is a non‐coding RNA. The distribution of Nb‐1‐expressing cells partially overlapped that of octopamine‐immunoreactive cells and neurosecretory cells, the latter of which are involved in the synthesis and secretion of juvenile hormone (JH). Octopamine and JH control worker task transition, and thus Nb‐1 might be involved in task transition through the modulation of octopamine/JH synthesis and secretion.
A Methodology to Assess Changes in Healthcare Infrastructure in Stockholm

Designing major shifts in complex systems such as healthcare requires a combination of approaches and perspectives. A considerable change in healthcare infrastructure is due to occur in Stockholm with a major emergency department being closed. As this change impacts operations as well as governance, multiple methods are needed to assess it. In this paper, we present an approach combining simulations and data mining of healthcare data to assess the changes to healthcare system in Stockholm; and discuss the opportunities and challenges of doing so.
Modelle zur rechnergestützten Simulation von Kommunikationsflüssen in Rechnernetzen

The realization of distributed DP systems requires efficient tools to support the design and analysis of computer network software, taking into account the performance characteristics of the hardware components used. Investigation of the efficiency and correctness of the communication software is of special importance. This work considers the problem of performance evaluation and prediction for computer networks and introduces a set of generalized models which allow detailed description of hierarchically organized communication software and of resource administration within the computer network nodes. Starting from an analysis of computer network structures those model-relevant components of a computer network are first elaborated which form the basis for the introduction of the conceptional models. The conceptional models are mainly formulated as a set of generalized models which can be extended and adapted to different boundary conditions. The fundamental models are the model of a "protocol unit" which allows to describe communication protocols within different (protocol) layers of a hierarchically organized communication software using a common basic model structure, and the model of a "local resource administrator" describing resource management within a computer network node. A simulator (MOSAIC) is introduced, which allows to evaluate experimentally the conceptional models presented. To structure this simulator a concept has been elaborated, which configurates the simulation program dynamically using a set of predefined submodels and being adaptable to cover a large set of different applications. A concept for the interactive execution of simulation experiments is developed, which supports numerous possibilities of interactions during the simulation run and which by means of graphical features offers a comfortable interface to the experimenter. The models have been applied successfully to investigate existing and planned computer networks; some of the experimental results are summarized.
Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide stimulates gastric mucosal pepsinogen secretion

The effect of Helicobacter pylori lipopolysaccharide on guinea pig gastric mucosal pepsinogen secretion has been examined using an Ussing chamber technique. Luminal addition of H. pylori lipopolysaccharide resulted in a fifty‐fold stimulation of pepsinogen secretion compared to a twelve‐fold increase with E. coil lipopolysaccharide. Electron microscopy showed marked degranulation of zymogen granules but no evidence of chief cell disruption.
Comparison of prone positioning and continuous rotation of patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome: Results of a pilot study

ObjectiveTo compare prone positioning and continuous rotational therapy with respect to oxygenation and hemodynamics in patients suffering from adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). DesignRandomized, prospective pilot study. SettingIntensive care unit at a university hospital. PatientsTwenty-six mechanically ventilated patients with ARDS from nontraumatic causes. InterventionsTwelve patients were turned prone (group 1), 14 patients underwent continuous axial rotation from one lateral position to the other with a maximum angle of 124 degrees in specially designed beds (group 2). All patients had received inhaled nitric oxide (NO) therapy before positioning. Measurements and Main Results Gas exchange and hemodynamics were assessed using a pulmonary artery catheter. In both groups, an improvement in Pao2/Fio2-ratio and intrapulmonary shunt fraction occurred after initiation of NO as well as during the first 72 hrs of positioning therapy. During the study period, seven patients died in group 1 and nine patients in group 2 (p = NS). Comparing the areas under the curve during the first 72 hrs, no significant differences with respect to Pao2/Fio2-ratio, Paco2, positive end-expiratory and peak inspiratory pressure levels, intrapulmonary shunt fraction, the alveolar-arterial oxygen difference, and oxygen delivery and consumption, as well as cardiac index, pulmonary and arterial blood pressures, and pulmonary arterial occlusion pressure could be detected between the groups. Prone positioning was tolerated well, continuous rotational therapy had to be modified according to hemodynamic instability in three patients. ConclusionsIn severe lung injury, continuous rotational therapy seems to exert effects comparable to prone positioning and could serve as alternative when prone positioning seems inadvisable.
Peanut Pod Invasion by Aspergillus flavus in the Presence of Meloidogyne hapla.

'Argentine', 'Early Runner' and 'Florigiant' peanut cultivars were grown in methyl bromide treated soil in field microplots inoculated with: (i) Aspergillus flavus or (ii) A. flavus + Meloidogyne hapla. Nematode infection produced heavy root galling and light pod galling equally on all cultivars. A. flavus, A. niger, Cephalosporium spp. , Colletotrichum sp. , Curvularia spp. , Fusarium spp. , Penicillium spp. and Trichoderma viride were isolated from shells and kernels. A significantly greater incidence and density of A. flavus was obtained from kernels of plants inoculated with both organisms than from kernels of plants receiving only the fungus. Differences were not significant, however, for incidence and density of A. flavus in shells or for the total of all fungal propagules in shells and kernels. Shells of 'Early Runner' contained significantly greater incidence and density of A. flavus than the other two cultivars; also, kernels of this cultivar contained more fungal propagules than kernels of 'Argentine. ' A significantly larger number of total fungi was isolated from kernels of 'Argentine' than from 'Florigiant. ' Aflatoxins were found only in two shell samples and not in kernels.
Genetic Variants That Are Associated with Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objective. While genetic risks have been implicated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the involvement of various genotypes in neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE) remains uncertain. The present metaanalysis aimed to combine data from different studies and evaluate the association between each genotype and the risk of developing NPSLE. Methods. Studies were searched and retrieved from online databases (PubMed, EMBASE, BIOSIS, and ScienceDirect). Case-control studies were chosen if they reported genotype frequencies of the γ Fc region (FCγR) receptors II-A, III-A, and III-B; tumor necrosis factor–α (TNF-α); mannan-binding lectin (MBL); integrin alpha M (ITGAM); interleukin (IL) 1, IL-1β, and IL-6; IL-10 promoter; and vitamin D genes. The OR were used to assess the strength of this association between patients with NPSLE and SLE. Results. A total of 33 studies were considered in this metaanalysis. The results suggest that these genotypes demonstrated a significant association with NPSLE: the homozygous FCγR IIIa 158 FF genotype (OR 1.89, p = 0.03 for FF vs VV + FV), heterozygous FCγR IIIb NA1/2 genotype (OR 2.14, p = 0.03 for NA1/2 vs NA1/1; OR 1.81, p = 0.04 for NA1/2 vs NA1/1 + NA2/2), and homozygous ITGAM rs1143679 HH genotype (OR 3.39, p = 0.04 for HH vs RH; OR 3.11, p = 0.048 for HH vs RR + RH). Polymorphisms of the TNF-α, MBL2, IL-1, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 promoter, and vitamin D receptor genes did not show a statistically significant association with the risk of developing NPSLE (p > 0.05). Conclusion. This metaanalysis indicates that polymorphisms in the pathways of immune complex clearance, such as the FcγRIIIa, FcγRIIIb, and ITGAM genotypes, are potential susceptibility genes for NPSLE.
Recombinant Major Antigenic Protein 2 ofEhrlichia canis: a Potential Diagnostic Tool

ABSTRACT The major antigenic protein 2 (MAP2) of Ehrlichia canis was cloned and expressed. The recombinant protein was characterized and tested in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) format for potential application in the serodiagnosis of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis. The recombinant protein, which contained a C-terminal polyhistidine tag, had a molecular mass of approximately 26 kDa. The antigen was clearly identified by Western immunoblotting using antihistidine antibody and immune serum from an experimentally infected dog. The recombinant MAP2 (rMAP2) was tested in an ELISA format using 141 serum samples fromE. canis immunofluorescent antibody (IFA)-positive and IFA-negative dogs. Fifty-five of the serum samples were from dogs experimentally or naturally infected with E. canis and were previously demonstrated to contain antibodies reactive withE. canis by indirect immunofluorescence assays. The remaining 86 samples, 33 of which were from dogs infected with microorganisms other than E. canis, were seronegative. All of the samples from experimentally infected animals and 36 of the 37 samples from naturally infected animals were found to contain antibodies against rMAP2 of E. canis in the ELISA. Only 3 of 53 IFA-negative samples tested positive on the rMAP2 ELISA. There was 100% agreement among IFA-positive samples from experimentally infected animals, 97.3% agreement among IFA-positive samples from naturally infected animals, and 94.3% agreement among IFA-negative samples, resulting in a 97.2% overall agreement between the two assays. These data suggest that rMAP2 of E. canis could be used as a recombinant test antigen for the serodiagnosis of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis.
Energy levels of lanthanide ions in a Lu 2 Si 2 O 7 host

L. Pidol,1,2 B. Viana,1 A. Galtayries,3 and P. Dorenbos4 1Laboratoire de Chimie Appliquée de l’Etat Solide, UMR-CNRS 7574, ENSCP, 11 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France 2Saint Gobain Cristaux, 104 Route de Larchant, 77140 Saint Pierre les Nemours, France 3Laboratoire de Physico-Chimie des Surfaces, UMR-CNRS 7045, ENSCP, 11 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France 4Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlands Received 16 August 2004; revised manuscript received 20 July 2005; published 13 September 2005
The BLAKE2 Cryptographic Hash and Message Authentication Code (MAC)

This document describes the cryptographic hash function BLAKE2 and makes the algorithm specification and C source code conveniently available to the Internet community. BLAKE2 comes in two main flavors: BLAKE2b is optimized for 64-bit platforms and BLAKE2s for smaller architectures. BLAKE2 can be directly keyed, making it functionally equivalent to a Message Authentication Code (MAC).
WHO EMRO | Health-related quality of life of patients with asthma: a cross-sectional study in Semnan, Islamic Republic of Iran

Asthma can profoundly affect the quality of life of individuals with the disease. There are limited data on the quality of life of people with asthma in the Islamic Republic of Iran. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate quality of life in adults with asthma in Semnan using the 36-item short form health survey (SF-36). The effect of sociodemographic characteristics on quality of life scores was examined. The study included a convenience sample of 385 outpatients with asthma attending a pulmonary clinic from June to December 2013. The mean physical and mental component scores were 58.8 (SD 18.3) and 57.3 (SD 17.0) respectively. The study sample had lower quality of life scores in all the fields than the reference population (P < 0.05). Patients with lower education, urban residents, widowed/divorced patients and manual workers had lower quality of life scores (P < 0.05). Efforts are needed to improve the quality of life of people with asthma in parallel with precise management plans.
Improved Nonlocal Means Based on Pre-Classification and Invariant Block Matching

One of the most popular image denoising methods based on self-similarity is called nonlocal means (NLM). Though it can achieve remarkable performance, this method has a few shortcomings, e.g., the computationally expensive calculation of the similarity measure, and the lack of reliable candidates for some nonrepetitive patches. In this paper, we propose to improve NLM by integrating Gaussian blur, clustering, and rotationally invariant block matching (RIBM) into the NLM framework. Experimental results show that the proposed technique can perform denoising better than the original NLM both quantitatively and visually, especially when the noise level is high.
How Multiple Social Identities Are Related to Creativity

The present research examined whether possessing multiple social identities (i.e., groups relevant to one’s sense of self) is associated with creativity. In Study 1, the more identities individuals reported having, the more names they generated for a new commercial product (i.e., greater idea fluency). In Study 2, multiple identities were associated with greater fluency and originality (mediated by cognitive flexibility, but not by persistence). Study 3 validated these findings using a highly powered sample. We again found that multiple identities increase fluency and originality, and that flexibility (but not persistence) mediated the effect on originality. Study 3 also ruled out several alternative explanations (self-affirmation, novelty seeking, and generalized persistence). Across all studies, the findings were robust to controlling for personality, and there was no evidence of a curvilinear relationship between multiple identities and creativity. These results suggest that possessing multiple social identities is associated with enhanced creativity via cognitive flexibility.
Leakage of fluid around high‐volume, low‐pressure cuffs

We studied the ability of high‐volume, low‐pressure tracheal tube cuffs (Portex Soft Seal®, Portex Profile®, Mallinckrodt Lo‐Contour® and Mallinckrodt Hi‐Lo® tubes) to prevent leakage of fluid into the airway, in a model trachea and lung. Five tubes (7.0 and 8.0 mm internal diameter) of each type were used. Each tube was inserted into the model trachea and the cuff inflated until the intracuff pressure reached either 20, 30 or 40 cmH2O. The model lung was ventilated with a tidal volume of 700 ml and respiratory rate of 14 breath.min−1 at a compliance of 20 cmH2O. Ten millilitres of 0.01% methylene blue solution were infused over the cuff and the volume of fluid leaking past the cuff over 5 min was measured. The leak volume for the Soft Seal tube was less than that for the Profile or Lo‐Contour tubes at all intracuff pressures (all p < 0.05). Compared with the Hi‐Lo tube, the volume leaking past the cuff for the Soft Seal tube was greater at an intracuff pressure of 20 cmH2O (p < 0.05), whereas there was no significant difference between these two tubes at an intracuff pressure of 30 or 40 cmH2O. We conclude that the cuff of the Portex Soft Seal tube prevented leakage of fluid significantly more than that of the Portex Profile or Mallinckrodt Lo‐Contour tubes, and to a similar degree to that of the Mallinckrodt Hi‐Lo tube.
Brain activation related to retrosaccades in saccade experiments

In saccade experiments, each trial (e.g. prosaccade/antisaccade) is by definition followed by a saccade, which returns the gaze back to the center (retrosaccade). This event can complicate brain-imaging results when using a simple block-design. We used an event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging design involving prosaccades and antisaccades (testsaccades) to examine brain activation associated with retrosaccades. Testsaccades activated visual and oculomotor-related brain areas. During retrosaccades, these areas were less active than during testsaccades. In the supplementary eye fields, the insula, and striatum, the retrosaccades gave rise to negative blood oxygenation level-dependent responses. In the striatum, these negative responses were equal in size to the positive responses of the testsaccades. This could mask brain activity of testsaccades when not taken into account.
Machine Learning of Fonts

Font kerning is the adjustment of the spacing between specific pairs of characters that appear next to each other in text. Kerning is important for achieving visually pleasing displayed text. Due to the quadratic growth of possible character pairs, manually kerning a font takes time and effort. This project explores the possibility of automatic kerning using machine learning. Existing automatic kerning tools were discussed but no implementations using machine learning were found. Kerning specification in font files and relation to other font metrics were researched. A dataset for supervised regression learning of the spacings between character pairs was constructed. A neural network model predicting the proper spacing between the glyph bounding boxes given the whitespace shape between the glyphs and the font tracking was developed. The neural network model was evaluated on a test set as well as on standard fonts, both quantitatively and visually. The results beat the baseline performance and an existing implementation of automatic kerning in FontForge font toolset.
A TTITUDES TOWARDS TRANSPLANT PATIENTS WITH ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE : T HE INFLUENCE OF PROSOCIAL PERSONALITY AND PATIENT INFORMATION ON TRANSPLANT PRIORITY RATINGS AND ORGAN DONOR WILLINGNESS

One hundred and eighty eight participants (105 females and 83 males) completed batteries of scales that measured organ donation willingness and prosocial personality levels. Participants also read vignettes that described patients in need of liver transplants. Participants rated the patient with a history of alcohol abuse who was no longer drinking as a significantly lower priority for transplant surgery than a patient with a genetic liver condition. This implied that patients with alcoholic lover disease were perceived as less deserving of liver transplants. It was also found that completing the scales and reading vignettes significantly increased levels of organ donation willingness. This supported the theory that encouraging people to think about organ donation and other prosocial behaviours increased their intention to engage in related activities. Prosocial personality levels did not influence the extent of change in organ donation willingness. The control group that did not read a vignette showed a slightly larger increase in willingness compared with either of the groups that read a vignette. This may be because reading about patients aroused mortality anxiety that inhibited prosocial attitudes. This result although not statistically significant, suggested that giving people information about patients is less effective at promoting donation willingness than encouraging them to think about organ donation more generally.
Characteristic Mode Equations for Impedance Surfaces

Characteristic mode formalism is presented for closed surfaces modeled with the impedance boundary condition. The characteristic equations are expressed in terms of the electric, magnetic, and combined field integral operators (EFIO, MFIO, and CFIO). Similarly as for perfectly conducting (PEC) surfaces, the modal solutions based on EFIO (MFIO) are corrupted by spurious solutions, as the frequency coincides with the internal resonance frequency of a cavity with PEC (perfect magnetic conductor) walls, whereas the CFIO-based approach gives physically correct modal solutions.
Atraumatic Hip Instability

Atraumatic hip instability is an increasingly recognized source of pain and hip dysfunction. It can result from numerous causes, including femoroacetabular impingement, prior trauma, injury to the capsuloligamentous structures, and idiopathic etiologies.Occult hip instability can be a challenging diagnosis that requires careful attention to, and interpretation of, history, physical examination, and radiographic imaging findings.Iatrogenic hip instability is a potential complication of both open and arthroscopic hip-preserving surgical procedures that can have catastrophic results.Atraumatic hip instability is a pathologic entity that can be successfully addressed with open and arthroscopic procedures.
Rapid α-1-antitrypsin M-variant Genotyping by Primer-induced Restriction Analysis

The 4 normal alleles of M1, M2, M3, and M4 are the most common gene products of the human α-1-antitrypsin (hAAT). Two single substitutions in M1 are responsible for M3 and M4, whereas 2 substitutions in M1 produce M2. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the Arg101/His101 sequence variation can separate M1 and M3 from M2 and M4 alleles. To complete the genotyping procedure of hAAT M variants, the exon-V Glu376/Asp376 sequence variation was directly analyzed using a designer primer with a single-base substitution in its sequence. This substitution induced an artificial site for the same restriction enzyme in the polymerase chain reaction product. The new restriction site was present in M1 and M4 but absent in M2 and M3, which can be applied as a rapid reliable means for the M-variant genotyping of hAAT.