Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of percussion massage gun on hamstring flexibility in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial.

Background : Decreased muscle flexibility and altered joint mechanics are connected to the onset and progression of osteoarthritis in the knee. The hamstring muscles tend to shorten and contract, which increases the tibiofemoral joint compressive force. Particularly for the hamstrings, stretches and percussive massage might help lessen the limitation of knee extension that is seen in patients with tibiofemoral osteoarthritis or patellofemoral pain syndrome. Purpose: to examine how utilizing a percussion massage gun affects people with knee osteoarthritis' hamstring flexibility, discomfort, range of motion, and function. Methods : 42 patients, ranging in age from 45 to 60 years, of both genders with mild to moderate knee OA were split into two groups of twenty-one patients each at random. Group A, or the control group, received standard physical therapy care involving strengthening and stretching the muscles in the lower limbs for four weeks, three workouts a week. Group B (the experimental group) received the same exercise as Group A in addition to a percussion massage gun on the hamstrings for five minutes, three sessions per week for four weeks. The sit-and Reach test was used to assess hamstring flexibility, the VAS for pain, active knee extension for knee extension ROM, and the WOMAC questionnaire to assess knee joint function. Results : There was a significant improvement (P<0.05) in hamstring flexibility, pain, ROM, and function in group B compared to group A. Conclusions: Percussion massage guns may have a significant effect on improving hamstring flexibility, pain, ROM, and function. This may benefit patients in improving their complaints, and this may benefit physiotherapists as well in improving their practice, as it is simple, easy, effortless, and more effective compared to stretching, especially in cases where knee extension is not recommended.
Plasma Diagnostics of Argon-Oxygen Gases Mixture using Different Applied Power in a DC Sputtering System

Sputtering is the process of depositing thin films on the surface of a material using plasma. Plasma is created by adding extremely high energy to a surrounding gas, which turns into plasma. The plasma is directed towards the material on which you want to deposit the films, and the plasma particles interact with the material to form a thin film of the desired material. Oxygen plasma has many important applications in industry. When adding a small percentage of it, it can change the properties of the plasma significantly. In this research, the spectrum of the plasma generated from the application of different energies (175,200,250,300) watts of direct current was studied on a mixture of argon and oxygen gases in a ratio of (9: 1). The spectrum emitted from the plasma was measured Within the wavelength range (400-800) nm, the plasma parameters (Te, ne, λD, ND) were diagnosed by examining the spectrum corresponding to the applied power using optical emission spectroscopy (OES). The results showed an increase in the electron temperature and electron density with the increase in the applied power. Where the highest and lowest values for the electron temperature and density were respectively (1.645-1.305) eV, (26.03-25.36) x 1017/cm3.
Corrected Calibration of the Radiocarbon Time Scale, 3904–3203 Cal BC

Since our publication of the high-precision calibration curve for the larger part of the 4th millennium BC (de Jong, Becker & Mook, 1986), we found that the dendrochronologic scale (cal bc) needs a correction of 26 years. Instead of using the zero-point of the Niederwill chronology (4039 bc) which was floating at the time, our dendrochronologic scale was erroneously based on the zero-point of the Hohenheim master chronology, which, in its 1986 stage, extended to 4065 bc.
Environmental stress, future climate, and germination of Myracrodruon urundeuva seeds 1

Abstract: Myracrodruon urundeuva, a native species from the Brazilian Caatinga, is widely distributed across its endemic region, where it also plays an essential socioeconomic role. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of environmental stress on the germination of M. urundeuva seeds harvested in different years (2010 to 2013). Seeds were germinated at constant temperatures between 10 to 40 °C, osmotic potentials from 0 to -0.8 MPa (in polyethylene glycol 6000 solutions), and from 0 to -0.5 MPa (in NaCl solutions). The experiment was conducted according to a completely randomized design, with three replicates of 50 seeds, in a factorial scheme (harvest year x stress intensity) for each environmental stress. Germination data were then analysed using thermal, hydro and halo time models, and future germination responses projected according to climate change scenarios. The germination thermal thresholds ranged from 7.4 to 53.3 oC. The germination base osmotic threshold (using polyethylene glycol) was -0.6 MPa and the base osmotic threshold in NaCl was -0.43MPa. Seeds from different harvest years showed distinct tolerance to environmental stresses. The thermal, hydro and halo-time models were efficient to describe the germinative response of seeds, and the climate models allowed to identify the germination responses of M. urundeuva in future climate. According to the models for future climate (RCP 8.5), the reduction of rainfall by 2100 will directly affect seed germination and seedling recruitment of M. urundeuva.
Determination of the importance of job offer characteristics by students of economic studies: factor analysis

Motivation: The paper addresses the current subject matter related to the students’ activity in the labour market and constitutes a part of the current research trend related to students’ search for employment.Aim: The paper presents four research questions: What is important to students of economic studies in a job? What job offers do students of economic studies look for? Which characteristics of a job offer are important for students of economic studies and why? Is there a difference in the expectations of students of economic studies regarding job offers, which is determined by gender, age, place of residence, type of study and source of income? In order to obtain data, an online questionnaire was developed and filled out by students of the Cracow University of Economics (N=756). The search for employment is based on individual preferences, but the survey can identify those that are common to the surveyed group of students. In order to analyze the collected data the Factor Analysis was implemented, with-in which the Principal Components Analysis method was used. The rotation method and the scree criterion were used to determine the number of factors. Next, the factor analysis was used to show the differences in the answers given by students, depending on the variables adopted to characterize the study group.Results: Based on the results of the factor analysis, it was confirmed that the age, gender, place of residence, educational level and source of income of the surveyed students have an impact on the employment choices they make. The conclusions resulting from the study are of cognitive and applicable nature, especially for employers and recruiters who, with this knowledge, can react flexibly and prepare accordingly to attract and hire employees from the generation “Z”.
Assessment of water resources carrying-capacity with multi-criteria scenarioanalysis method:a case study in Zhangye region

In order to identify the water resources security and investigate the way for sustainable development of water resources, a new concept of water resources carrying capacity (WRCC) has been widely studied in the regional sustainable development during the past decades. Asacase study, the methods of WRCC has been investigated for Zhangye region, located in the middle Heihe river basin. A dynamic and integrated model of WRCC water resources carrying capaeity is established in the frame of multi-criteria analysis on the basis of the major sectoral models including the extended input-out model, the assessment model of virtual water and the comprehensive evaluation model of WRCC, which provide an integrated frame for the study of water resources de velopment, land use, virtual water trade and socio-economic development.The WRCC in different scenarios is discussed and the influence of some important policy factors on WRCC is evaluated including the adjustment of industrial factor, im provement of water-saving technology, implementation of "water allocation" sche me, virtual water strategy, etc. The study indicated that the WRCC of Zhangyes till has considerable potentialities for sustaining the economic development with an annual rate of about 7% of GDP growth and the natural growth of the population at "Comparatively Well-off" living standard of the main agricultural products in 20 years premised with the implementation of "water allocation" scheme and the necessary environmental protection.
Combining bioenergetics and movement models to improve understanding of the population consequences of disturbance

We developed dynamic bioenergetics models to investigate how behavioural responses to anthropogenic disturbance events might affect the population dynamics of three marine mammal species (harbour porpoise, grey seal and harbour seal) with contrasting life‐history traits (capital versus income breeders) and movement behaviour (resident versus nomadic). We used these models to analyse how individual vital rates were affected by differences in the probability of disturbance and the duration of any behavioural response, while taking account of uncertainty in the model parameters and heterogeneity in behaviour. The outputs of individual movement models and telemetry data were then used to determine how the probability of exposure might vary among species, individuals, and geographical locations. We then demonstrate how these estimated probabilities of exposure can be translated into probabilities of disturbance. For illustrative purposes, we modelled the potential effects of a temporary decrease in energy assimilation associated with a series of disturbance events that might realistically occur during the construction of an offshore windfarm. Offspring starvation mortality was the vital rate that was most affected by these disturbance events. Monitoring of rate should be considered as standard practice so that populations responses can be detected as early as possible. Predicted effects on individual vital rates depended on the species' movement behaviour and the likely density of animals where the modelled construction activity was assumed to take place. The magnitude of these effects also depended critically on the assumed duration of the reduction in energy assimilation. No direct estimates of this variable are currently available, but we suggest some ways in which it could be estimated. The described approach could be extended to other species and activities, given sufficient information to parameterise the component models. However, we emphasise the need to account for among‐individual heterogeneities and uncertainties in the values of the many model parameters.
Digital transformation: statistical evaluation of success factors of an ICO-campaign

High rates of growth of the ICO market and its excess returns stipulate a significant interest of investors to projects which use initial token allocation (ICO) for attracting investments. This work takes into account the fact that even a potentially profitable project may fail to collect the required amount of money and to start placing tokens on the stock exchange. We are speaking about success of an ICO-campaign for fund raising. In order to estimate the influence of factors and check the suggested research hypotheses, logistic regression was used. The selection included 672 projects. As a dependent variable, the proportion of the amount collected in the ICO process from the required value is selected. Depending on the tested hypothesis the influencing variables took into account the presence of a pre-sale stage and the bounty program and also the price of the token, the upper limit of fund raising, the duration of the ICO-campaign and the number of team members. The work results allow token emitters to substantiate managing the success of the ICO-campaign of the project and the investors to see whether it deserves their attention. Besides, the obtained materials can be useful for specialists in forming the legal framework of token transactions.
Dietary cystine restriction increases the proliferative capacity of the small intestine of mice

Currently, over 88 million people are estimated to have adopted a vegan or vegetarian diet. Cysteine is a semi-essential amino acid, which availability is largely dependent on dietary intake of meat, eggs and whole grains. Vegan/vegetarian diets are therefore inherently low in cysteine. Sufficient uptake of cysteine is crucial, as it serves as substrate for protein synthesis and can be converted to taurine and glutathione. We found earlier that intermolecular cystine bridges are essential for the barrier function of the intestinal mucus layer. Therefore, we now investigate the effect of low dietary cystine on the intestine. Mice (8/group) received a high fat diet with a normal or low cystine concentration for 2 weeks. We observed no changes in plasma methionine, cysteine, taurine or glutathione levels or bile acid conjugation after 2 weeks of low cystine feeding. In the colon, dietary cystine restriction results in an increase in goblet cell numbers, and a borderline significant increase mucus layer thickness. Gut microbiome composition and expression of stem cell markers did not change on the low cystine diet. Remarkably, stem cell markers, as well as the proliferation marker Ki67, were increased upon cystine restriction in the small intestine. In line with this, gene set enrichment analysis indicated enrichment of Wnt signaling in the small intestine of mice on the low cystine diet, indicative of increased epithelial proliferation. In conclusion, 2 weeks of cystine restriction did not result in apparent systemic effects, but the low cystine diet increased the proliferative capacity specifically of the small intestine and induced the number of goblet cells in the colon.
Duration of mood effects following a Japanese version of the mood induction task

Researchers have employed a variety of methodologies to induce positive and negative mood states in study participants to investigate the influence that mood has on psychological, physiological, and cognitive processes both in health and illness. Here, we investigated the effectiveness and the duration of mood effects following the mood induction task (MIT), a protocol that combines mood-inducing sentences, auditory stimuli, and autobiographical memory recall in a cohort of healthy Japanese adult individuals. In Study 1, we translated and augmented the mood-inducing sentences originally proposed by Velten in 1968 and verified that people perceived the translations as being largely congruent with the valence of the original sentences. In Study 2, we developed a Japanese version of the mood induction task (J-MIT) and examined its effectiveness using an online implementation. Results based on data collected immediately after induction showed that the J-MIT was able to modulate the mood in the intended direction. However, mood effects were not observed during the subsequent performance of a cognitive task, the Tower of London task, suggesting that the effects did not persist long enough. Overall, the current results show that mood induction procedures such as the J-MIT can alter the mood of study participants in the short term; however, at the same time, they highlight the need to further examine how mood effects evolve and persist through time to better understand how mood induction protocols can be used to study affective processes more effectively.
Testing the feasibility, acceptability, and exploring trends on efficacy of the problem management plus for moms: Protocol of a pilot randomized control trial

Mental health disorders are one of the most common causes that limit the ability of mothers to care for themselves and for their children. Recent data suggest high rates of distress among women in charge of young children in Zambia. Nevertheless, Zambia’s public healthcare offers very limited treatment for common mental health distress. To address this treatment gap, this study aims to test the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of a context-adapted psychosocial intervention. A total of 265 mothers with mental health needs (defined as SRQ-20 scores above 7) were randomly assigned with equal probability to the intervention or control group. The intervention group will receive a locally adapted version of the Problem-Management Plus and “Thinking Healthy” interventions developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), combined with specific parts of the Strong Minds-Strong Communities intervention. Trained and closely supervised wellbeing-community health workers will provide the psychosocial intervention. Mental health distress and attendance to the intervention will be assessed at enrollment and 6 months after the intervention. We will estimate the impact of the intervention on mental health distress using an intention-to-treat approach. We previously found that there is a large necessity for interventions that aim to address mother anxiety/depression problems. In this study, we tested the feasibility and efficacy of an innovative intervention, demonstrating that implementing these mental health treatments in low-income settings, such as Zambia, is viable with an adequate support system. If successful, larger studies will be needed to test the effectiveness of the intervention with increased precision. Trial registration: This study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT05627206.
Job satisfaction and work stress among physicians in Norway and Germany—A cross-sectional study

Purpose Physicians’ health and wellbeing are important albeit often neglected quality indicators of health care systems. The aims of the study were to compare job satisfaction and work stress among doctors in Germany and Norway, and to identify predictors for job satisfaction. Methods All active physicians in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany (N = 13,304) and a nationwide sample of Norwegian physicians (N = 2,316) were surveyed in a cross-sectional design in 2021. Response rates of German and Norwegian physicians were n = 4,385 (33%) and n = 1,639 (70.8%), respectively. In addition to age, sex, and work-hours, the main outcome measures were the validated Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS) and the short form of the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (ERI). Results There were significant differences between Norwegian and German physicians in job satisfaction but with small effect sizes. All effort scores of German physicians were significantly higher and four of seven reward scores significantly lower than for their Norwegian colleagues. The proportion of German physicians in the state of a gratification crisis was significantly higher (67%) than in their Norwegian colleagues (53%). In both countries, physicians with a gratification crisis scored significantly lower on all items of job satisfaction. There were only minor gender differences in job satisfaction and effort-reward balance. Age, effort, and reward accounted for 46% of the explained variance of job satisfaction. Conclusions Lower job satisfaction and reward in some areas and higher perceived effort of physicians in Germany than in Norway are still in favor of Norwegian working conditions, but the differences seem to diminish. The high proportions of gratification crises in both countries warrants appropriate measures for prevention and health promotion.
Effects of grafting on chemical constituents, toxicological properties, antithrombotic activity, and myocardial infarction protection of styrax secreted from the trunk of Liquidambar orientalis Mill

Styrax, the balsam refined from the trunk of Liquidambar orientalis Mill. has a variety of applications in the perfumery and medical industry, especially for use in traditional Chinese medicine. However, the resources of styrax are in shortage due to being endangered of this plant. Grafting can improve the adaptability of plants to unfavorable environmental conditions. We tried to graft the L. orientalis Mill. on L. formosana Hance which was widely distributed in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces of China in an attempt to obtain styrax from grafted L. orientalis Mill. (grafted styrax, SG). Whether SG can become an alternative application of commercially available styrax (SC) need be further investigated. The components of SG were analyzed by GC-MS, and the results showed that the chromatograms of SG, SC, and styrax standard (SS) were consistent. The ration of 12 major chemical components based peak area in SG, SC, and SS were 93.95%, 94.24%, and 95.86% respectively. The assessment of toxicity, antithrombotic activity, and myocardial infarction protection of SG and SC was evaluated by using the zebrafish model, the results showed that SG and SC have the similar toxicological properties as evidenced by acute toxicity test, developmental toxicity and teratogenicity, and long-term toxicity test. Both SG and SC significantly decreased the thrombosis and increased blood flow velocity of zebrafish induced by adrenaline hydrochloride, inhibited myocardial apoptosis, myocardial infarction and myocardial inflammation in zebrafish induced by isoproterenol hydrochloride. Moreover, SG had an obvious improvement effect on cardiac output, while SC has no effect. Collectively, SG is similar to SC in chemical composition, toxicological properties, antithrombotic activity, and myocardial infarction protection effects, and may be used as a substitute for styrax to reduce the collection for wild L. orientalis Mill. and increase the available styrax resources.
MulinforCPI: enhancing precision of compound–protein interaction prediction through novel perspectives on multi-level information integration

Abstract Forecasting the interaction between compounds and proteins is crucial for discovering new drugs. However, previous sequence-based studies have not utilized three-dimensional (3D) information on compounds and proteins, such as atom coordinates and distance matrices, to predict binding affinity. Furthermore, numerous widely adopted computational techniques have relied on sequences of amino acid characters for protein representations. This approach may constrain the model’s ability to capture meaningful biochemical features, impeding a more comprehensive understanding of the underlying proteins. Here, we propose a two-step deep learning strategy named MulinforCPI that incorporates transfer learning techniques with multi-level resolution features to overcome these limitations. Our approach leverages 3D information from both proteins and compounds and acquires a profound understanding of the atomic-level features of proteins. Besides, our research highlights the divide between first-principle and data-driven methods, offering new research prospects for compound–protein interaction tasks. We applied the proposed method to six datasets: Davis, Metz, KIBA, CASF-2016, DUD-E and BindingDB, to evaluate the effectiveness of our approach.