Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Postactivation Potentiation Induced by Elastic Resistance on Kinematics and Performance in a Roundhouse Kick of Trained Martial Arts Practitioners

Abstract Aandahl, HS, Von Heimburg, E, and Van den Tillaar, R. Effect of postactivation potentiation induced by elastic resistance on kinematics and performance in a roundhouse kick of trained martial arts practitioners. J Strength Cond Res 32(4): 990–996, 2018—The aim of this study was to examine whether kicking with elastic resistance during warm-up could initiate postactivation potentiation (PAP), and thereby positively influence kinematics and performance on subsequent explosive roundhouse kicking. Five women and 11 men (n = 16) with a background in kickboxing (n = 10) or taekwondo (n = 6) performed 2 warm-up strategies with 3 subsequent test kicks 5–8 minutes after a PAP-inducing exercise. Kicking performance, defined as roundhouse kicking velocity with the foot, was measured using 3D motion capture (500 Hz) with a 15 marker lower-body 3D model. In addition, electromyography of the prime movers—vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and rectus femoris muscles—was measured to confirm the presence of PAP. Kicking velocity of the foot increased by 3.3% after performing a warming-up strategy including kicking with elastic resistance (p = 0.009, &eegr;2 = 0.32). Increases were also recorded in muscle activity in vastus medialis (35.2%, p = 0.05, &eegr;2 = 0.18) and rectus femoris (43.9%, p = 0.04, &eegr;2 = 0.20). These findings indicate that performing a warm-up strategy including kicking with elastic resistance can have a positive effect on kicking performance in a roundhouse kick.
Genetic diversity of equine herpesvirus 1 isolated from neurological, abortigenic and respiratory disease outbreaks

Summary Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV‐1) causes respiratory disease, abortion, neonatal death and neurological disease in equines and is endemic in most countries. The viral factors that influence EHV‐1 disease severity are poorly understood, and this has hampered vaccine development. However, the N752D substitution in the viral DNA polymerase catalytic subunit has been shown statistically to be associated with neurological disease. This has given rise to the term “neuropathic strain,” even though strains lacking the polymorphism have been recovered from cases of neurological disease. To broaden understanding of EHV‐1 diversity in the field, 78 EHV‐1 strains isolated over a period of 35 years were sequenced. The great majority of isolates originated from the United Kingdom and included in the collection were low passage isolates from respiratory, abortigenic and neurological outbreaks. Phylogenetic analysis of regions spanning 80% of the genome showed that up to 13 viral clades have been circulating in the United Kingdom and that most of these are continuing to circulate. Abortion isolates grouped into nine clades, and neurological isolates grouped into five. Most neurological isolates had the N752D substitution, whereas most abortion isolates did not, although three of the neurological isolates from linked outbreaks had a different polymorphism. Finally, bioinformatic analysis suggested that recombination has occurred between EHV‐1 clades, between EHV‐1 and equine herpesvirus 4, and between EHV‐1 and equine herpesvirus 8.
Elucidating Adverse Nutritional Implications of Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Mycotoxins through Stable Isotope Techniques

Multiple drivers of the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) include a rapid shift from predominantly plant-based diets to energy-dense foods based on meats, milk, animal fats and vegetable oils. The shift to overweight and obesity is driven by increased exposure to mass media, urbanization, technological advances in food processing, rising income and increased population density associated with increased access to cheap foods. At the same time, undernutrition persists mainly due to food insecurity and lack of access to safe water, sanitation and adequate health care. All known nutrition interventions result in only one third reduction in stunting. Little consideration has been given to hazardous exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and microbial toxins as major components of the malnutrition-causal framework. These hazards include microbial toxins, for example, mycotoxins, and environmental pollutants such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), some of which are known to disrupt the endocrine system. These hazards sit at the cross road of undernutrition and overweight and obesity since the exposure cuts across the critical window of opportunity (the first 1000 days). In this review, we update on the role of food and environmental contaminants, especially EDCs and aflatoxins, in child growth and on the implications for metabolic dysfunction and disease risk in later life, and discuss potential applications of nuclear and isotopic techniques to elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms, outcome indicators, as well as occurrence levels.
Moderate Load Resisted Sprints do Not Improve Subsequent Sprint Performance in Varsity Level Sprinters.

Resisted sprint training (RST) is commonly used for performance enhancement in athletics and team sports to develop acceleration ability. Evidence suggests that RST may be effective as a short-term intervention to improve successive sprints. While these improvements have been measured in team sport athletes, limited research has considered the acute effects of RST training in sprint-trained athletes. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to determine if performing RST with varsity level sprinters using sled-equivalent resistive loads of ∼45% body mass results in a potentiation effect, leading to improvements in subsequent maximal sprint performance over 0-5 m and 0-20 m. Competitive sprinters (n=20), were randomly assigned to perform a pre/post maximal 20 m sprint separated by either 3 resisted (RST group) or un-resisted (URS group) sprints. The RST or URS protocol was performed on four occasions separated by at least 7 days. No significant differences were observed between the RST and URS groups comparing changes in sprint times over 0-5 m (URS Δ = <0.01 s ± 0.03 s, RST Δ = <0.01 s ± 0.03 s) and 0-20 m (URS Δ = 0.013 s ± 0.04 s, RST Δ = <0.01 s ± 0.04 s). We conclude that resisted sprints using sled equivalent loads of 45% body mass are ineffective at inducing a potentiating effect on subsequent sprint performance in varsity level sprinters. In this population of trained athletes, greater loads may be necessary to induce a potentiating effect.
ar X iv : 1 51 2 . 04 23 4 v 3 [ m at h . N T ] 1 8 M ar 2 01 8 Two applications of the spectrum of numbers

Let the base β be a complex number, |β| > 1, and let A ⊂ C be a finite alphabet of digits. The A-spectrum of β is the set SA(β) = { ∑n k=0 akβ k | n ∈ N, ak ∈ A}. We show that the spectrum SA(β) has an accumulation point if and only if 0 has a particular (β,A)-representation, said to be rigid. The first application is restricted to the case that β > 1 and the alphabet is A = {−M, . ,M}, M ≥ 1 integer. We show that the set Zβ,M of infinite (β,A)-representations of 0 is recognizable by a finite Büchi automaton if and only if the spectrum SA(β) has no accumulation point. Using a result of Akiyama-Komornik and Feng, this implies that Zβ,M is recognizable by a finite Büchi automaton for any positive integer M ≥ ⌈β⌉ − 1 if and only if β is a Pisot number. This improves the previous bound M ≥ ⌈β⌉. For the second application the base and the digits are complex. We consider the on-line algorithm for division of Trivedi and Ercegovac generalized to a complex numeration system. In on-line arithmetic the operands and results are processed in a digit serial manner, starting with the most significant digit. The divisor must be far from 0, which means that no prefix of the (β,A)representation of the divisor can be small. The numeration system (β, A) is said to allow preprocessing if there exists a finite list of transformations on the divisor which achieve this task. We show that (β, A) allows preprocessing if and only if the spectrum SA(β) has no accumulation point.
Organic molecular beam deposition: fundamentals, growth dynamics, and in situ studies

We review recent progress on thin film growth by organic molecular beam deposition (OMBD). We give a brief overview of growth physics with emphasis on the specific characteristics of organic materials, such as weak van der Waals binding forces and conformational and orientational degrees of freedom of the molecular building blocks. Two recent developments in experimental studies of OMBD will be discussed in more detail: (1) we will give examples for real-time and in situ growth studies during deposition of the organic semiconductors pentacene, diindenoperylene, and PTCDA and (2) we will give an overview of high precision in situ investigations of the first molecular monolayer, in particular using the x-ray standing wave technique.
Mechanism of Mercury Adsorption and Oxidation by Oxygen over the CeO2 (111) Surface: A DFT Study

CeO2 is a promising catalytic oxidation material for flue gas mercury removal. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and periodic slab models are employed to investigate mercury adsorption and oxidation by oxygen over the CeO2 (111) surface. DFT calculations indicate that Hg0 is physically adsorbed on the CeO2 (111) surface and the Hg atom interacts strongly with the surface Ce atom according to the partial density of states (PDOS) analysis, whereas, HgO is adsorbed on the CeO2 (111) surface in a chemisorption manner, with its adsorption energy in the range of 69.9–198.37 kJ/mol. Depending on the adsorption methods of Hg0 and HgO, three reaction pathways (pathways I, II, and III) of Hg0 oxidation by oxygen are proposed. Pathway I is the most likely oxidation route on the CeO2 (111) surface due to it having the lowest energy barrier of 20.7 kJ/mol. The formation of the HgO molecule is the rate-determining step, which is also the only energy barrier of the entire process. Compared with energy barriers of Hg0 oxidation on the other catalytic materials, CeO2 is more efficient at mercury removal in flue gas owing to its low energy barrier.
Growth of vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes forests on metal alloy Ni-Nb-N with low content of catalyst

This research shows the possibility of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) formation on the surface of low nickel (∼ 10 at.%) Ni-Nb-N amorphous metal alloy film by CVD method at 550 °C of the gas mixture based on acetylene. The structure of CNT were studied by transmission and scanning-electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray and the Raman spectroscopy.
Gene expression patterns in bone following lipopolysaccharide stimulation

Bone displays suppressed osteogenesis in inflammatory diseases such as sepsis and rheumatoid arthritis. However, the underlying mechanisms have not yet been clearly explained. To identify the gene expression patterns in the bone, we performed Affymetrix Mouse Genome 430 2.0 Array with RNA isolated from mouse femurs 4 h after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration. The gene expressions were confirmed with real-time PCR. The serum concentration of the N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen (PINP), a bone-formation marker, was determined using ELISA. A total of 1003 transcripts were upregulated and 159 transcripts were downregulated (more than twofold upregulation or downregulation). Increased expression levels of the inflammation-related genes interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were confirmed from in the period 4 h to 72 h after LPS administration using real-time PCR. Gene ontogene analysis found four bone-related categories involved in four biological processes: system development, osteoclast differentiation, ossification and bone development. These processes involved 25 upregulated genes. In the KEGG database, we further analyzed the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) pathway, which is strongly related to osteogenesis. The upregulated bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) and downregulated inhibitor of DNA binding 4 (Id4) expressions were further confirmed by real-time PCR after LPS stimulation. The osteoblast function was determined through examination of the expression levels of core binding factor 1 (Cbfa1) and osteocalcin (OC) in bone tissues and serum PINP from 4 h to 72 h after LPS administration. The expressions of OC and Cbfa1 decreased 6 h after administration (p < 0.05). Significantly suppressed PINP levels were observed in the later stage (from 8 h to 72 h, p < 0.05) but not in the early stage (4 h or 6 h, p > 0.05) of LPS stimulation. The results of this study suggest that LPS induces elevated expressions of skeletal system development- and osteoclast differentiation-related genes and inflammation genes at an early stage in the bone. The perturbed functions of these two groups of genes may lead to a faint change in osteogenesis at an early stage of LPS stimulation. Suppressed bone formation was found at later stages in response to LPS stimulation.
Recent Developments in Organic Polymers Based- Photovoltaic Cells

In this review article, the uses of organic polymers to make photovoltaic cells have been discussed. The focus is mainly on discussing organic polymer based photovoltaic (OPVs) solar cells, the development of new device technologies and donor polymers that are being researched on. The recent development in this field has led to improved OPV performances with power conversion efficiencies as phenomenal as 9%. However for commercial application of this kind of OPVs, an improved device structure and cost effective processing methods are required. This article reports the polymer design criteria, energy level matching, nano-morphing of polymer/acceptor blend films and local dipole moments of the polymer chains that have been developed in the research that took place over the past 4 years. We emphasize the importance of developing new methods for designing polymers with improved physical properties and development of new technologies to fully understand the fundamentals of OPV mechanisms, which will help improve the power conversion efficiency of the OPV. KEYWORDS - Power Conversion Efficiency, Bulk-heterojuntion, Hybrid Solar Cells, Benzo(1,2-b:4,5-b') Dithiophene, Fused Dithienogermolodithiophene, Selenium-substituted
The development, fabrication, and material characterization of polypropylene composites reinforced with carbon nanofiber and hydroxyapatite nanorod hybrid fillers

This study focuses on the design, fabrication, microstructural and property characterization, and biocompatibility evaluation of polypropylene (PP) reinforced with carbon nanofiber (CNF) and hydroxyapatite nanorod (HANR) fillers. The purpose is to develop advanced PP/CNF–HANR hybrids with good mechanical behavior, thermal stability, and excellent biocompatibility for use as craniofacial implants in orthopedics. Several material-examination techniques, including X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, tensile tests, and impact measurement are used to characterize the microstructural, mechanical, and thermal properties of the hybrids. Furthermore, osteoblastic cell cultivation and colorimetric assay are also employed for assessing their viability on the composites. The CNF and HANR filler hybridization yields an improvement in Young’s modulus, impact strength, thermal stability, and biocompatibility of PP. The PP/2% CNF–20% HANR hybrid composite is found to exhibit the highest elastic modulus, tensile strength, thermal stability, and biocompatibility.
Microwave-Vacuum Drying of Sliced Parslif root

AbstractMicrowave-vacuum drying of parsley root, a common root vegetable was experimentally investigated and compared to conventional air-blast drying. Various combinations of water and microwave-blanching were also investigated. Analytical evaluation and subjective scoring of rehydrated dried products showed combined microwave and air-blast drying to be superior, as well as the most rapid of the methods investigated.
Rift Valley fever in West Africa: the role of space in endemicity

Rift Valley fever is an endemic vector‐borne disease in West Africa, which mainly affects domestic ruminants and occasionally humans. The aetiological mechanisms of its endemicity remain under debate. We used a simple spatially explicit model to assess the possibility of endemicity without wild animals providing a permanent virus reservoir. Our model takes into account the vertical transmission in some mosquito species, the rainfall‐driven emergence of their eggs and local and distant contacts because of herd migration. Endemicity without such a permanent virus reservoir would be impossible in a single site except when there is a strictly periodic rainfall pattern; but it would be possible when there are herd movements and sufficient inter‐site variability in rainfall, which drives mosquito emergence.
Patterns of food and nutrient intakes in Italy and their application to the development of food-based dietary guidelines

Patterns of food and nutrient intakes in Italy were estimated starting from a nationwide food survey carried out by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) in 1994–6, called INN-CA 1995. The present analysis looks at food and nutrient intakes of the subsample of the adults (18–60-year-old individuals). In particular, the two extreme quartiles of the distribution of total fat intake expressed as percentage of energy were considered in the analysis. The results showed that the subjects included in the fourth quartile (high-fat consumers) consumed fewer vegetables than the subjects in the first quartile (low-fat consumers). Furthermore, high-fat consumers had a tendency to have an unbalanced diet, whereas the low-fat consumers present a better pattern. In synthesis, 50% of the adults reach the goal of at least 400g of vegetables and fruit daily, and 25% consume less than 30 % of energy from total fats. Convincing that part of the population whose diet does not comply with dietary goals to come back to the Mediterranean tradition might be a priority for nutrition education in Italy.
St. John’s Wort Regulates Proliferation and Apoptosis in MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells by Inhibiting AMPK/mTOR and Activating the Mitochondrial Pathway

St. John’s Wort (SJW) has been used as an estrogen agonist in the systems affected by menopause. Also, hypericin, a bioactive compound of SJW, has been used as a photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy. In the present study, we investigate the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of SJW to demonstrate the chemo-preventive effect in human breast cancer cells. MCF-7 cells were cultured with DMSO or various concentrations of SJW ethanol extract (SJWE). Cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, the expression of proteins involved in cell growth and apoptosis, and caspase-3/7 activity were examined. SJWE dose-dependently suppressed cell growth and induced apoptosis of MCF-7 cells. Mechanistically, SJWE enhanced the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and decreased the expression of p-mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) and p-eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E)-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1). Also, SJWE inhibited the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) and showed increases in the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Bad with decreases in the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins including B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL), and p-Bcl-2-associated death promoter (p-Bad). SJWE at 50 μg/mL showed markedly enhanced caspase-7 activation. Taken together, our results provide evidence that SJWE shows anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects via inhibition of AMPK/mTOR and activation of a mitochondrial pathway. Therefore, SJWE can be used as a chemo-preventive agent without photo-activation.
A 4-GHz 1:10 unequal Wilkinson power divider using split ring resonator

Power division is widely used in most wireless/wire line communication systems. However, the design of an unequal Wilkinson power divider, particularly with a large division ratio, becomes a challenge in engineering due to the difficulties in realization of the high or low-impedance transmission lines on a dielectric substrate. This paper presents the results of a compact 1:10 unequal Wilkinson power divider (WPD) fabricated using split ring resonator (SRR) and complementary split ring resonator (CSRR) etched in the back metal level (ground plane). The designed WPD is fabricated and measured at central frequency of 4 GHz, with a 294.9 Ω microstrip-line branch and a 29.5 Ω branch located in the circuit. The measurements of insertion and reflection losses of the fabricated circuit as well as the isolation between the output ports are in a good agreement with the simulated responses of the designed circuit. The measured performances show that the proposed 1:10 Wilkinson divider has excellent performances, dividing ratios of −1 to −1.3 dB and −11.1 to −11.7 dB at port 2 and port 3 over 3.8–4.2 Ghz.
Modeling the electrical percolation behavior of hybrid nanocomposites based on carbon nanotubes and graphene nanoplatelets

An improved three-dimensional percolation model taking into account the random dispersion of nanofillers in a polymer matrix has been developed in order to study the effect of the nanofiller shape and aspect ratio (AR) on the electrical percolation behavior characteristic of nanocomposites. In this new model, two nanofillers of different shape and AR have been considered separately—carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs)—while hybrid systems with different relative ratio of the fillers and various AR have also been investigated. The numerical model is able to predict the electrical percolation threshold assuming a perfect random dispersion and orientation of the nanofillers, while tunneling effects are also accounted for, resulting in a percolation volume of 0.023 and 1.628 vol% for CNTs and GNPs nanocomposites, respectively, showing a quantitative agreement with existing experimental observations. The percolation volume was found to decrease with the AR of CNT and GNP according to different relationships. Hybrid systems incorporating CNTs and GNPs exhibited significant synergistic effects when the two fillers were properly combined. The numerical predictions confirm the applicability of the model to predict the percolation behavior and percolating network morphology by indicating the probability of contact patterns between same and different elements.