Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reliability of technologies to measure the barbell velocity: Implications for monitoring resistance training

This study investigated the inter- and intra-device agreement of four new devices marketed for barbell velocity measurement. Mean, mean propulsive and peak velocity outcomes were obtained for bench press and full squat exercises along the whole load-velocity spectrum (from light to heavy loads). Measurements were simultaneously registered by two linear velocity transducers T-Force, two linear position transducers Speed4Lifts, two smartphone video-based systems My Lift, and one 3D motion analysis system STT. Calculations included infraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Bland-Altman Limits of Agreement (LoA), standard error of measurement (SEM), smallest detectable change (SDC) and maximum errors (MaxError). Results were reported in absolute (m/s) and relative terms (%1RM). Three velocity segments were differentiated according to the velocity-load relationships for each exercise: heavy (≥ 80% 1RM), medium (50% < 1RM < 80%) and light loads (≤ 50% 1RM). Criteria for acceptable reliability were ICC > 0.990 and SDC < 0.07 m/s (~5% 1RM). The T-Force device shown the best intra-device agreement (SDC = 0.01–0.02 m/s, LoA <0.01m/s, MaxError = 1.3–2.2%1RM). The Speed4Lifts and STT were found as highly reliable, especially against lifting velocities ≤1.0 m/s (Speed4Lifts, SDC = 0.01–0.05 m/s; STT, SDC = 0.02–0.04 m/s), whereas the My Lift app showed the worst results with errors well above the acceptable levels (SDC = 0.26–0.34 m/s, MaxError = 18.9–24.8%1RM). T-Force stands as the preferable option to assess barbell velocity and to identify technical errors of measurement for emerging monitoring technologies. Both the Speed4Lifts and STT are fine alternatives to T-Force for measuring velocity against high-medium loads (velocities ≤ 1.0 m/s), while the excessive errors of the newly updated My Lift app advise against the use of this tool for velocity-based resistance training.
Auxin-conjugate hydrolysis in Chinese cabbage: characterization of an amidohydrolase and its role during infection with clubroot disease.

Auxin conjugates play a role in the regulation of free indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) content in plants. Not much is known about the enzymes involved in either conjugate synthesis or hydrolysis. In this study we have isolated and characterized an auxin conjugate hydrolase from Chinese cabbage seedlings and investigated it during the development of both the Chinese cabbage plants and the clubroot disease. The hydrolase isolated from light- and dark-grown seedlings accepted the amide conjugates indole-3-acetic acid-alanine (IAAla), IAA-phenylalanine (IAPhe), but not IRA-aspartate (lAAsp) as substrates. We also found a substantial amount of hydrolysis of an ester conjugate (IAA-glucose, IAGlu) in our enzyme preparation. The tentative reaction product IAA was identified by HPLC and subsequent GC-MS analysis. The pH optima for the different substrates were not identical, suggesting several hydrolase isoforms. After gel filtration chromatography we found at least two peaks containing different hydrolase isoforms. The isoform, which converted IAGlU to IAA, exhibited a molecular mass of ca 63 kDa, and an isoform of ca 21 kDa converted IAAla and IAPhe. The increased free IAA content in clubroot-diseased roots of Brassicaceae can be due to either de novo synthesis or release of IAA from conjugates. To answer this question free, ester- and amide-bound IAA was measured in 24- and 30-day-old leaves and roots of healthy and Plasmodiophora brassicae-infected Chinese cabbage, and the hydrolase activity with different substrates measured in the same tissues. The amide conjugates were dramatically enhanced in infected roots, whereas free IAA was only slightly enhanced compared to the control tissue. Hydrolase activity was also enhanced in clubbed roots, but the substrate specificity differed from that found in the seedlings. Especially, IAAsp hydrolysis was induced after inoculation with P. brassicae. We conclude that different auxin conjugates can be hydrolyzed at different developmental stages or under stress.
A Thermal Tuning Meta-Duplex-Lens (MDL): Design and Characterization

Multifunctional metasurfaces play an important role in the development of integrated optical paths. However, some of the realizations of current multifunctional metasurface devices depend on polarization selectivity, and others change the polarization state of the outgoing light. Here, based on vanadium dioxide (VO2) phase change material, a strategy to design a meta-duplex-lens (MDL) is proposed and numerical simulation calculations demonstrate that at low temperature (about 300 K), VO2 behaves as a dielectric so that the MDL can act as a transmission lens (transmission efficiency of 87.6%). Conversely, when VO2 enters the metallic state (about 355 K), the MDL has the ability to reflect and polymerize electromagnetic waves and works as a reflection lens (reflection efficiency of 85.1%). The dielectric waveguide and gap-surface plasmon (GSP) theories are used in transmission and reflection directions, respectively. In order to satisfy the coverage of the phase gradient in the range of 2π in both cases, we set the antenna as a nanopillar with a high aspect ratio. It is notable that, via symmetrical antennas acting in concert with VO2 phase change material, the polarization states of both the incident light and the outgoing light are not changed. This reversible tuning will play a significant role in the fields of imaging, optical storage devices, communication, sensors, etc.
Increase in Central Venous Pressure During Passive Leg Raising Cannot Detect Preload Unresponsiveness.

OBJECTIVE By analogy with the classical central venous pressure rules to assess a fluid challenge, we hypothesized that an increase in central venous pressure greater than or equal to 5 cm H2O (i.e., 4 mm Hg) during passive leg raising can predict preload unresponsiveness diagnosed by the absence of increase in velocity-time integral of the left ventricular outflow tract greater than or equal to 10% during the test (negative passive leg raising test). DESIGN AND SETTINGS Velocity-time integral was measured by transthoracic echocardiography. Central venous pressure and velocity-time integral were measured before and during passive leg raising. PATIENTS Critically ill patients for whom the physician decided to test preload responsiveness by passive leg raising were prospectively included. MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS Fifty-seven set of measurements were performed in 50 patients. Preload unresponsiveness (negative passive leg raising test) was observed in 32 cases. The changes in central venous pressure during passive leg raising did not differ between positive passive leg raising cases (positive passive leg raising test) and negative passive leg raising test cases (3 ± 2 vs 3 ± 2 mm Hg, respectively) and thus did not predict preload unresponsiveness (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.59). An increase in central venous pressure greater than or equal to 4 mm Hg during passive leg raising was observed in 10 cases of positive passive leg raising test and in 11 cases of negative passive leg raising test. Taking an increase in central venous pressure greater than or equal to 3 or greater than or equal to 5 mm Hg rather than greater than or equal to 4 mm Hg during passive leg raising did not better allow one to identify negative passive leg raising test. CONCLUSIONS Marked increase in central venous pressure during passive leg raising cannot identify negative passive leg raising test cases and thus preload unresponsiveness. Measurements of cardiac output (or its surrogates) during passive leg raising are, thus, mandatory to appropriately interpret this test.
What is the optimal high-dose treatment following autologous stem cell transplantation in relapsed or refractory germ cell cancer: a retrospective comparison of high-dose ICE and high-dose CE.

PURPOSE Testicular cancer is the most commonly diagnosed solid organ malignancy in 15 to 35 year-old men with 1% incidence among all malignancies. Sixty percent of patients with mild and poor-risk factors need additional treatments. Starting in 1980s, high dose chemotherapy regimens (HDCT) that were not applicable before due to hematological toxicity have been brought into use, and survival and cure possibility have increased. To date, no randomized trial has been conducted to demonstrate superiority of high-dose chemotherapy protocols used for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Our study aims to compare two commonly used HDCT regimens for a long period, with real-life data. METHODS Approval for thiss retrospective study was obtained from the ethics committee of Gülhane Training and Research Hospital. Fifty refractory testicular cancer patients above 18 years were treated with HDCT and ASCT at Gülhane Training and Research Hospital (January 2011-July 2018). RESULTS Fifty metastatic, refractory testicular carcinoma patients with a median age of 34 were included in the study. Ninety per cent of the cases had stage III disease at diagnosis. Except for 8 patients (16%) at mild risk group, all the other patients were at high risk. CE was used as salvage treatment for half of the patients and ICE was used for the other half. Four patients responded completely and 30 responded partially to ASCT. Post transplantation median progression-free survival (PFS) was 22 months. Median overall survival (OS) in the general population was 223.4 months (76.1-370.7). Although there was a difference in OS between chemotherapy groups, the difference was not statistically significant. The mean duration of engraftment in patients treated with CE was 11.2 ± 2.3 days, while in patients receiving ICE it was 15.5 ± 2.1 days. This difference between chemotherapy groups was statistically significant (p<0.001).
Implementation of an evidence-based medicine curriculum in a fellowship program: Can it influence clinical practice?

ABSTRACT While evidence-based medicine (EBM) curricula improves knowledge scores, correlation with physician behavior, and patient outcomes are not clear. We established an EBM curriculum for Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine fellows that included didactic teaching, opportunity for deliberate practice and presentation, and coaching and feedback from faculty experts, to determine the impact on self-assessed confidence in teaching EBM, Practice-Based Learning and Improvement (PBLI) competency rating and patient care decisions. Seventeen fellows at a New York City academic medical center participated during 2014–2015 academic year. We analyzed pre-/posttest surveys for self-assessed confidence in teaching EBM concepts, EBM worksheets for content of clinical questions and impact on patient care, and PBLI competency ratings for overall impact. Posttest survey indicated that fellows’ self-assessed confidence in teaching EBM increased significantly. While most found Journal Club discussions and EBM case conferences valuable, only 36% of fellows found EBM worksheets completion to be good use of time (average completion time 89 minutes). EBM worksheets helped reinforce or change plan of care in 32 out of 50 cases. There was no impact on end-of-the-year PBLI ratings. This curriculum, integrating didactic, self-directed and peer learning with objective feedback, increased self-assessed confidence in teaching EBM, and influenced patient care plans.
Habitat deterioration promotes the evolution of direct development in metamorphosing species

Although metamorphosis is widespread in the animal kingdom, several species have evolved life‐cycle modifications to avoid complete metamorphosis. Some species, for example, many salamanders and newts, have deleted the adult stage via a process called paedomorphosis. Others, for example, some frog species and marine invertebrates, no longer have a distinct larval stage and reach maturation via direct development. Here we study which ecological conditions can lead to the loss of metamorphosis via the evolution of direct development. To do so, we use size‐structured consumer‐resource models in conjunction with the adaptive‐dynamics approach. In case the larval habitat deteriorates, individuals will produce larger offspring and in concert accelerate metamorphosis. Although this leads to the evolutionary transition from metamorphosis to direct development when the adult habitat is highly favorable, the population will go extinct in case the adult habitat does not provide sufficient food to escape metamorphosis. With a phylogenetic approach we furthermore show that among amphibians the transition of metamorphosis to direct development is indeed, in line with model predictions, conditional on and preceded by the evolution of larger egg sizes.
Low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein mediates in PC12 cell cultures the inhibition of nerve growth factor‐promoted neurite outgrowth by pregnancy zone protein and α2‐macroglobulin

Human pregnancy zone protein (PZP) is a major pregnancy‐associated plasma protein closely related to human α2‐macroglobulin (α2M). It has been demonstrated that monoamine‐activated forms of human and rat α2M and rat α1M can bind to TrkA and, respectively, inhibit and stimulate NGF‐promoted neurite outgrowth, Trk phosphorylation, and intracellular signal transduction in PC12 cells. However, the effect of PZP on neurons is unknown, and the molecular mechanism of neuroinhibition by monoamine‐activated α2M is still unclear. In this report, we show that methylamine‐activated PZP (MA‐PZP), like MA‐α2M, inhibits in a dose‐dependent way the NGF‐promoted neurite extension and TrkA phosphorylation in PC12 cells. On the other hand, normal PZP (N‐PZP) had little or no effect. In addition, the inhibitory effect of activated α‐macroglobulins (αMs) was reversible upon its removal from the cell culture. In addition, PZP, as well as α2M, is neuroinhibitory without being directly cytotoxic. It is known that the activated αMs bind to the multiligand receptor termed low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein (LRP) and that the receptor‐associated protein (RAP) specifically blocks uptake of all known LRP ligands. To investigate the potential role of LRP in neuromodulation by activated PZP/α2M, the effect of RAP on the neuroinhibitory activities of these αMs was also studied. Data presented here show that RAP blocked the neurite‐ and Trk‐inhibitory activities of both MA‐PZP and MA‐α2M, whereas RAP itself had no neuromodulatory effect. Hence, we conclude that these data suggest that the LRP receptor and its αM ligands may play a role in regulating Trk receptors. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Origanum vulgare and Thymus vulgaris Extract Usability to Improve Silage Hygienic Quality and Reduce Mycotoxin Concentrations

Silage is one of the main feed components of ruminants around the world and can make up about 50- 80% of the rations of dairy cows during the winter. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usability of oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) aqueous and ethanol extracts to improve the hygienic quality of perennial ryegrass, red clover and blue alfalfa silage samples and estimate their effect on mycotoxins concentrations. Under laboratory conditions, 63 silage samples (21 perennial ryegrass, 21 blue alfalfa, 21 red clover) were fermented with inserted aqueous and ethanol extracts of oregano and thyme and two commercial inoculants with mesophilic lactic acid bacteria. After 96 days of fermentation, in silage samples were established fermentation parameters, microbiological status and mycotoxins concentrations. It was determined that the best results for achieving hygienic quality of perennial ryegrass and red clover silage samples was by insertion of aqueous and ethanol extracts of oregano and thyme. In blue alfalfa samples, the best results of silage hygienic indicators were determined by inserting aqueous and ethanol extracts of oregano. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEA) and T-2 toxin concentrations in perennial ryegrass, red clover and blue alfalfa silage samples were best reduced by inserting aqueous and ethanol extracts of oregano and thyme. The present study shows that these extracts can be used to improve silage hygienic quality, reduce mycotoxins concentrations and thus ensure the wellness of cattle.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Findings of 36 Adult Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties with social interaction, repetitive behavior, and additional features, such as special interests. Its precise etiology is unclear. Recently, immunological mechanisms, such as maternal autoantibodies/infections, have increasingly been the subject of discussion. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) investigations play a decisive role in the detection of immunological processes in the brain. This study therefore retrospectively analyzed the CSF findings of adult patients with ASD. CSF basic measures (white blood cell count, total protein, albumin quotient, immunoglobulin G (IgG) index, and oligoclonal bands) and various antineuronal antibody findings of 36 adult patients with ASD, who had received lumbar puncture, were compared with an earlier described mentally healthy control group of 39 patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension. CSF protein concentrations and albumin quotients of patients with ASD were significantly higher as compared to controls (age corrected: p = 0.003 and p = 0.004, respectively); 17% of the patients with ASD showed increased albumin quotients. After correction for age and gender, the group effect for total protein remained significant (p = 0.041) and showed a tendency for albumin quotient (p = 0.079). In the CSF of two ASD patients, an intrathecal synthesis of anti-glutamate decarboxylase 65 (GAD65) antibodies was found. In total, more of the ASD patients (44%) presented abnormal findings in CSF basic diagnostics compared to controls (18%; p = 0.013). A subgroup of the patients with adult ASD showed indication of a blood–brain barrier dysfunction, and two patients displayed an intrathecal synthesis of anti-GAD65 antibodies; thus, the role of these antibodies in patients with ASD should be further investigated. The results of the study are limited by its retrospective and open design. The group differences in blood–brain barrier markers could be influenced by a different gender distribution between ASD patients and controls.
Factors affecting chemical biodegradation

Microbial degradation is one of the most important processes responsible for the removal of chemical contaminants from the environment. Since the aquatic compartment is frequently the ultimate depository for many man‐made substances, there is a need to understand factors that control and/or affect the rate of biodegradation for chemical substances in the aquatic environment. In this study, several priority chemicals encompassing various biocides (2,4‐dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, carbaryl, fenitrothion, pentachlorophenol) and a nitroaromatic (2,4‐dinitrotoluene) were assessed for their biodegradability in cyclone fermentors under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, with and without co‐metabolites. Among those factors investigated, aerobic and anaerobic conditions, availability of co‐metabolites, and pre‐exposure of microorganisms to the test chemical were found to be the most significant elements in controlling the rate of biodegradation. Other factors (e.g., acclimation period) requiring attention in calculating the rate of biodegradation were also discussed. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Environ Toxicol 15: 476–483, 2000
Comparisons Between Hypothesis- and Data-Driven Approaches for Multimorbidity Frailty Index: A Machine Learning Approach

Background Using big data and the theory of cumulative deficits to develop the multimorbidity frailty index (mFI) has become a widely accepted approach in public health and health care services. However, constructing the mFI using the most critical determinants and stratifying different risk groups with dose-response relationships remain major challenges in clinical practice. Objective This study aimed to develop the mFI by using machine learning methods that select variables based on the optimal fitness of the model. In addition, we aimed to further establish 4 entities of risk using a machine learning approach that would achieve the best distinction between groups and demonstrate the dose-response relationship. Methods In this study, we used Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database to develop a machine learning multimorbidity frailty index (ML-mFI) using the theory of cumulative diseases/deficits of an individual older person. Compared to the conventional mFI, in which the selection of diseases/deficits is based on expert opinion, we adopted the random forest method to select the most influential diseases/deficits that predict adverse outcomes for older people. To ensure that the survival curves showed a dose-response relationship with overlap during the follow-up, we developed the distance index and coverage index, which can be used at any time point to classify the ML-mFI of all subjects into the categories of fit, mild frailty, moderate frailty, and severe frailty. Survival analysis was conducted to evaluate the ability of the ML-mFI to predict adverse outcomes, such as unplanned hospitalizations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and mortality. Results The final ML-mFI model contained 38 diseases/deficits. Compared with conventional mFI, both indices had similar distribution patterns by age and sex; however, among people aged 65 to 69 years, the mean mFI and ML-mFI were 0.037 (SD 0.048) and 0.0070 (SD 0.0254), respectively. The difference may result from discrepancies in the diseases/deficits selected in the mFI and the ML-mFI. A total of 86,133 subjects aged 65 to 100 years were included in this study and were categorized into 4 groups according to the ML-mFI. Both the Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox models showed that the ML-mFI significantly predicted all outcomes of interest, including all-cause mortality, unplanned hospitalizations, and all-cause ICU admissions at 1, 5, and 8 years of follow-up (P<.01). In particular, a dose-response relationship was revealed between the 4 ML-mFI groups and adverse outcomes. Conclusions The ML-mFI consists of 38 diseases/deficits that can successfully stratify risk groups associated with all-cause mortality, unplanned hospitalizations, and all-cause ICU admissions in older people, which indicates that precise, patient-centered medical care can be a reality in an aging society.