Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment and Interpretation of Aerobic Fitness in Children and Adolescents

Our understanding of the development of children and adolescents' aerobic fitness is limited by ethical considerations and methodological constraints. Protocols, apparatus, and criteria of maximal effort used with adults are often unsuitable for use with children. In normal children and adolescents, peak VO2 increases with growth and maturation, although there are indications that girls' peak VO2 may level off around 14 years of age. Males exhibit higher values of peak VO2 than females, and the sex difference increases as they progress through adolescence. The difference between males and females has been attributed to the boys' greater muscle mass and hemoglobin concentration. It appears that boys experience an adolescent growth spurt in peak VO2, which reaches a maximum gain near the time of PHV, but data are insufficient to offer any generalization for girls. Peak VO2 has usually been expressed in relation to body mass, and with this convention it appears that boys' values are consistent throughout the developmental period, whereas girls' values decrease as they get older. This type of analysis may, however, have clouded our understanding of growth and maturational changes in peak VO2, and scaling for differences in body size may provide further clarification. If differences are shown where none were previously thought to exist, then physiological explanations must be sought. Methodological issues have also hindered the understanding of how children's blood lactate responses to exercise develop. The actual lactate level recorded during an exercise test is influenced by the site of sampling and the blood handling and assay techniques. Valid interstudy comparisons can only be made where similar procedures have been employed. In general, children demonstrate lower blood lactate levels at peak VO2 than adults, although individual variation is wide. Therefore the use of blood lactate measures to confirm the attainment of peak VO2 cannot be supported. Exercise at the same relative submaximal intensity elicits a lower blood lactate in children than in adults, but interpretation and identification of developmental and maturational patterns of response are limited by the use of different testing conditions and reference points (e.g., lactate threshold and fixed level reference points). There is growing evidence that the 2.5 mM reference level should be used in preference to the 4.0 mM level, as the adult criterion occurs close to maximal exercise in many children and adolescents. Explanations for child-adult differences in blood lactate responses to exercise are difficult to elucidate. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
A novel combination of drug therapy to protect residual hearing post cochlear implant surgery

Abstract Conclusions A cocktail combining NAC, Mannitol, and Dexamethasone may be used to prevent loss of residual hearing post-implantation. There is a window of opportunity to treat the cochlea before the onset of cell death in HCs. Objective Inner ear trauma caused by cochlear implant electrode insertion trauma (EIT) initiates multiple molecular mechanisms in hair cells (HCs) or support cells (SCs), resulting in initiation of programmed cell death within the damaged tissues of the cochlea, which leads to loss of residual hearing. In earlier studies L-N-acetylcysteine (L-NAC), Mannitol, and dexamethasone have been shown independently to protect the HCs loss against different types of inner ear trauma. These three molecules have different otoprotective effects. The goal of this preliminary study is to test the efficacy of a combination of these molecules to enhance the otoprotection of HCs against EIT. Methods OC explants were dissected from P-3 rats and placed in serum-free media. Explants were divided into control and experimental groups. Control group: (1) untreated controls; (2) EIT. Experimental group: (1) EIT + L-NAC (5, 2, or 1 mM); (2) EIT + Mannitol (100, 50, or 10 mM); (3) EIT + Dex (20, 10, or 5 μg/mL); (4) EIT + L-NAC + Mannitol + Dex. After EIT was caused in an in-vitro model of CI, explants were cultured in media containing L-NAC alone, Mannitol alone, or Dex alone at decreasing concentrations. Concentrations of L-NAC, Mannitol, and Dex that showed 50% protection of hair cell loss individually were used as a combination in experimental group 4. Results There was an increase of total hair cell (THC) loss in the EIT OC explants when compared with control group HC counts or the tri-therapy cochlea. This study defined the dosage of L-NAC, Mannitol, and Dex for the survival of 50% protection of hair cells in vitro. Their combination provided close to 96% protection, demonstrating an additive effect.
Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrheic piglets in the Province of Quebec.

During 1972 to 1974, 112 Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrheic piglets were recieved from different parts of the Province of Quebec, Canada. Fifty-six strains elicited a positive gut loop response in three week old piglets and were then considered as Moon's class 1 enteropathogens, while four of the 56 remaining strains reacted only in ten day old piglets and were classified as class 2 enteropathogens. Forty-eight strains produced both a heat-labile and a heat-stable enterotoxin, while 12 isolates which included the four class 2 enteropathogens produced only a heat-stable enterotoxin. Fifty-one enterotoxigenic strains could be serogrouped using OK antisera against E. coli strains commonly associated with colibacillosis in piglets. The most common serogroups encountered were O157: K "V17"; 88a,c, O149:K91; 88a.c. O157:K"V1c, O149:K91; 88a.c, O157:K"V17"; 88 a,c or a,b and O45:K"E5"; 88a,c. No significant difference was observed in the fermentation patterns, antibiotic susceptibility, colicin production, production of a filterable hemolysin and transferable tetracycline resistance between the enterotoxigenic and the nonenterotoxigenic strains.
Evidence for Autotrophic CO2 Fixation via the Reductive Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle by Members of the ε Subdivision of Proteobacteria

ABSTRACT Based on 16S rRNA gene surveys, bacteria of the ε subdivision of proteobacteria have been identified to be important members of microbial communities in a variety of environments, and quite a few have been demonstrated to grow autotrophically. However, no information exists on what pathway of autotrophic carbon fixation these bacteria might use. In this study, Thiomicrospira denitrificans and Candidatus Arcobacter sulfidicus, two chemolithoautotrophic sulfur oxidizers of the ε subdivision of proteobacteria, were examined for activities of the key enzymes of the known autotrophic CO2 fixation pathways. Both organisms contained activities of the key enzymes of the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle, ATP citrate lyase, 2-oxoglutarate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, and pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase. Furthermore, no activities of key enzymes of other CO2 fixation pathways, such as the Calvin cycle, the reductive acetyl coenzyme A pathway, and the 3-hydroxypropionate cycle, could be detected. In addition to the key enzymes, the activities of the other enzymes involved in the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle could be measured. Sections of the genes encoding the α- and β-subunits of ATP citrate lyase could be amplified from both organisms. These findings represent the first direct evidence for the operation of the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle for autotrophic CO2 fixation in ε-proteobacteria. Since ε-proteobacteria closely related to these two organisms are important in many habitats, such as hydrothermal vents, oxic-sulfidic interfaces, or oilfields, these results suggest that autotrophic CO2 fixation via the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle might be more important than previously considered.
On the Enhanced Impact Ionization in Uniaxial Strained p-MOSFETs

This letter reports a new mechanism for the enhanced impact-ionization rate (I<sub>sub</sub>/I<sub>d</sub>) present in short- channel uniaxial strained p-MOSFETs. Through the pinch-off voltage (V<sub>dsat</sub>), we have assessed the impact of strain on the maximum channel electric field. Due to the strain-enhanced mobility, V<sub>dsat</sub> becomes lower, resulting in the observed V<sub>g</sub>-dependent enhancement in I<sub>sub</sub>/I<sub>d</sub>. This mechanism needs to be considered when one-to-one comparisons of the hot-carrier effect between strained and unstrained devices are made.
Fyn and p38 Signaling Are Both Required for Maximal Hypertonic Activation of the Osmotic Response Element-binding Protein/Tonicity-responsive Enhancer-binding Protein (OREBP/TonEBP)*

When cells are challenged by hyperosmotic stress, one of the crucial adaptive responses is the expression of osmoprotective genes that are responsible for raising the intracellular level of compatible osmolytes such as sorbitol, betaine, and myo-inositol. This is achieved by the activation of the transcription factor called OREBP (also known as TonEBP or NFAT5) that specifically binds to the osmotic response element (ORE) or tonicity-responsive enhancer that enhances the transcription of these genes. Here we show that p38, a subgroup of the mitogen-activated kinases activated by hypertonic stress, and Fyn, a shrinkage-activated tyrosine kinase, are both involved in the hypertonic activation of OREBP/TonEBP. Inhibition of p38 by SB203580 or by the dominant negative p38 mutant partially blocked the hypertonic induction of ORE reporter (reporter gene regulated by ORE). Similarly, hypertonic activation of ORE reporter was partially blocked by pharmacological inhibition of Fyn or by a dominant negative Fyn and was attenuated in Fyn-deficient cells. Importantly, inhibiting p38 in Fyn-deficient cells almost completely abolished the hypertonic induction of ORE reporter activity, indicating that p38 and Fyn are the major signaling pathways for the hypertonic activation of OREBP/TonEBP. Further we show that the transactivation domain of OREBP/TonEBP is the target of p38- and Fyn-mediated hypertonic activation. These results indicate a dual control in regulating the expression of the osmoprotective genes in mammalian cells.
Insights into the role of HCV Plus-/Minus strand RNA, IFN-γ and IL-29 in relapse outcome in patients infected with HCV.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Approximately one-third of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients who complete antiviral therapy with undetectable serum HCV RNA at the end of therapy (ETR), will experience relapse. The reasons for the failure of treatment have not been elucidated. It was showed that HCV RNA can persist and replicate in extra hepatic sites, e.g. in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), but the relevance of its presence with relapse over time is still unknown. Moreover, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and IFN-lambdas [IFN-λ1, interleukin-29 (IL-29)], possess potent antiviral activity. We studied if the presence of plus-/minus strand RNA in PBMCs of patients and the serum level of IFN-γ and IL-29, which is the most abundant IFN-lambdas in serum, can be considered as predictive factors in relapse outcomes. METHODS Patients were screened for plus-/minus strand RNA at ETR and after 6 months. Also, we measured the serum level of IFN-γ and IL-29 and compared the result with those who developed a sustained virological response (SVR). RESULTS Levels of IL-29 and IFN-? serum were significantly higher in SVR at ETR and 6 months later compared to those of the relapsed patients, but there was no difference between the two groups regarding the presence or absence of plus-/minus HCV strand in PBMCs. CONCLUSIONS Our novel findings showed that the serum level of IL-29 and IFN-γ are predictive of relapse outcomes to HCV treatment, but there was no association between the presence of plus-γminus HCV RNA in PBMCs of patients with an outcome of therapy at ETR and later.
The “tug of war” model of foreign product purchases

Purpose While globalization has made it easier to consume foreign products, consumption decisions are rarely straightforward. Both love and hate relationships between consumers and countries exist and can even coexist. This paper aims to gain a better understanding of how positive/negative and general/specific consumer attitudes impact foreign product judgment and ownership. An integrative model explores the predictive power of affinity, animosity, cosmopolitanism and ethnocentrism simultaneously. Specifically, the authors investigate a paradoxical “tug of war” which takes place inside consumer minds – the coexistence of affinity and animosity toward the same country. Design/methodology/approach Using a quantitative approach, the authors analyze data from 202 consumers and test it in intra-national and international contexts. Findings The results demonstrate the importance of an integrative model that takes into account opposing impacts on consumer behavior. Additionally, the data reveal that affinity and animosity are not bi-polar endpoints on a continuum. Finally, affinity outweighs animosity with respect to impacting product judgment and ownership. Research limitations/implications The study was conducted in Israel. Hence, replications in other multi-cultural countries are needed. Practical implications Marketers can use a segmentation matrix to target audiences based on the existing “attitudinal mix” in their focal markets. Marketers can use the affinity drivers identified here to overcome animosity. Originality/value The “tug of war” model advances the animosity model, as it implies that to use attitudinal data theoretically and practically, there is a need to account for a full spectrum of general and country-specific attitudes. Affinity was tested for the first time within national borders.
안터넷광고에 대한 태도와 효과성에 있어 라이프스타일의 조절효과에 관한 연구

요 약〉 본 연구의 목적은 (1) 인터넷환경하에서 인터넷광고에 대한 태도와 인터넷광고의 효과성 간의 효과률 검증하고， (2) 인터넷광고에 대한 태도와 인터넷광고의 효과성간의 관계에 대 한 인터넷사용자의 라이프스타일의 조절효과룰 검증하는 것이다. 이롤 위해 광고에 대한 태도연구와 효과성에 관한 선행연구를 통해 두 변수간의 관계성을 알아보았으며， 이는 인 터넷 환경하에서도 적용되는지를 알아보기 위한 가설을 설정하였다 실증분석을 통한 결과는 인터넷광고에 대한 태도는 권유의도， 고려의도， 재방문의도， 구 매의도에 정(+)의 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났으며 인터넷시장에서 인터넷광고메 대한 태 도와 인터넷광고의 효과성은 전통적인 시장에서와 같이 동일하게 작용되었다. 두 번째로 인터넷사용자들의 라이프스타일에 따라 차이가 있을 것이라는 연구카설을 여섯 개의 유형 으로 나누어 연구한 결과 인터넷광고에 대한 태도와 구매의도간에는 인터넷사용자들의 라 이프스타일 유형에 따라 차이가 있는 것으로 나타났다.
VIRTUAL POSITIONS, PROCESSES, AND ORGANIZATIONS

Recent work has documented a variety of organizational arrangements that bypass the intended restrictions of a bureaucracy. These virtual-like organizational arrangements are viewed as coping mechanisms for adapting organizations to change and to new possibilities created by changing information technology. They are viewed as natural processes for achieving congruency between organizational ends and the available implementing information technologies. Organizations face the permanent challenge of being able to solve problems more rapidly than the problems change. This paper outlines a basic theory of why such virtual-like organizational arrangements occur. The argument centers on interdependence and how interdependence is affected by available information technology, by the effects of rapid change on goals, and by how environmental changes affect the management of interdependence. Virtual-like organizations exist within organizations as virtual positions, virtual processes, lateral coordinating mechanisms, and patronage. Virtual-like organizations also arise among organizations in the form of virtual organizations, industrial districts, strategic alliances, virtual teams, and latent organizations. A virtual-like rganizational arrangement creates a commons among its members which survives if the welfare of the commons is ensured. Non-governmental organizations are viewed as a type of virtual-like organizational arrangements.
Brain composition in Heliconius butterflies, posteclosion growth and experience‐dependent neuropil plasticity

Behavioral and sensory adaptations are often reflected in the differential expansion of brain components. These volumetric differences represent changes in cell number, size, and/or connectivity, which may denote changes in the functional and evolutionary relationships between different brain regions, and between brain composition and behavioral ecology. Here we describe the brain composition of two species of Heliconius butterflies, a long‐standing study system for investigating ecological adaptation and speciation. We confirm a previous report of a striking volumetric expansion of the mushroom body, and explore patterns of differential posteclosion and experience‐dependent plasticity between different brain regions. This analysis uncovers age‐ and experience‐dependent posteclosion mushroom body growth comparable to that in foraging Hymenoptera, but also identifies plasticity in several other neuropils. An interspecific analysis indicates that Heliconius display a remarkably large investment in mushroom bodies for a lepidopteran, and indeed rank highly compared to other insects. Our analyses lay the foundation for future comparative and experimental analyses that will establish Heliconius as a valuable case study in evolutionary neurobiology. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:1747–1769, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparative analysis of two versions of the Miller OA based on a systematic design method

This paper presents a clear comparison between two Operational Amplifiers (OAs) based on the same structure — the classical Miller OA — but with different solutions for dealing with the right-half plane zero (RHZ) associated to it: in one case, by inserting a resistor in series with the compensating capacitor and in the other case by using a current buffer, implemented by a cascoded transistor, to block (partially) the feedforward path causing the zero. Both OAs are designed following a systematic approach, that considers a wider set of specifications than the standard design methods reported in the literature. For a fair comparison both OAs were designed for the same set of specifications, including same power consumption and area: GBW of 500MHz for IDD=500uA, PM=60dgr for CL=1pF. Simulation results validate the design of these OAs, implemented in a standard 0.15um CMOS.
Ewing Sarcoma Family of Tumors

The Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT) comprises morphologically heterogeneous tumors that are characterized by nonrandom chromosomal translocations involving the EWS gene and one of several members of the ETS family of transcription factors. The translocation t(11;22)(q24;q12) is the most common and leads to the formation of the EWS-FLI1 fusion protein, which contributes to ESFT pathogenesis by modulating the expression of target genes. Tumors may be composed of small uniform cells with minimal morphologic evidence of differentiation, or they may be composed of larger, less uniform cells with varying degrees of neuroectodermal differentiation. CD99 expression is identified in nearly all ESFT and constitutes a useful positive marker when used as part of a panel of immunostains that can help rule out other differential diagnostic considerations. Molecular diagnostic tests commonly used to detect the presence of ESFT-specific translocations include RT-PCR and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Current therapy for patients with ESFT includes chemotherapy and surgery with or without radiation therapy. At present, the most significant prognostic factor for patients with ESFT is whether the disease is localized or metastatic.
Multiple sclerosis siblings with cerebrospinal fluid immunopathy but without any indication of neuronal damage

Objective – In a previous study, we found that nine of the 47 siblings to multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with a normal neurologic examination carry an intrathecal oligoclonal immunopathy with limited specificity, a condition we termed MS immunopathic trait. Here we searched for neurological dysfunction with increased sensitivity.
Highly birefringence photonic crystal fiber with anomalous dispersion

This paper presents a unique birefringent photonic crystal fiber, which promises to yield very high birefringence. The FDTD method has been employed for characterization of its optical parameters. The fiber possesses anomalous dispersion. Several important fiber parameters such as birefringence, dispersion, effective V parameter and Walk-off have been investigated numerically.
Highly tunable Bragg gratings in single-mode polymer optical fibers

A Bragg grating in a single-mode polymer optical fiber (POF) has been created. The novel grating has a length of 1 cm with a reflectivity of 80% and a linewidth of about 0.5 nm. The wavelength tunability of the POF grating by stretching was investigated and a wavelength tunable range of 20 nm has been achieved. Based on the properties of the polymer, we believe that this kind of grating has a wavelength tuning potential of more than 100 nm.
Inégalités de sécurité Economique et aide à la famille dans l'Union Européenne

Vivre dans un pays riche ne suffit pas a assurer le bien-etre. Pour un individu, il est essentiel de disposer egalement de la securite economique, a savoir etre protege contre le risque d'insuffisance de ses ressources. Les pays de l'Union europeenne sont ainsi plus inegaux selon la securite economique qu'ils assurent a leurs habitants que selon leur richesse ou leur esperance de vie. Les Pays-Bas procurent a sa population la plus grande securite economique : 1,8 fois plus importante que celle des habitants de la Grece en 2000. Les trois pays du Nord de l'Europe les mieux places garantissent une securite economique, en moyenne, 1,6 fois plus importante que les trois pays du Sud les plus defavorises de ce point de vue. Les aides a la famille et aux personnes demunies contribuent de facon non negligeable a la construction de la securite economique des populations, contribution deux fois plus importante au Danemark qu'en France et dix fois plus qu'en Espagne.
Proximal row carpectomy for scapholunate dissociation

Thirty-one patients underwent proximal row carpectomy for static scapholunate dissociation without degenerative arthritis. We report the radiographic and clinical results including wrist range of motion, grip strength, use of pain medication, pain severity and patient satisfaction. Mean postoperative flexion/extension was 74° (range 5°–150°) compared with 137° (range 70°–175°) for the uninvolved side. Mean grip strength was 22 kg for the involved side and 39 kg for uninvolved side. Fifteen of 31 patients reported moderate or severe pain after proximal row carpectomy, requiring wrist arthrodesis in four patients. Nearly half of patients involved in manual labour did not return to their pre-injury work status. Our findings suggest that proximal row carpectomy, when performed for static scapholunate dissociation, results in a stiffened, weakened wrist. When compared to historic series involving other treatments for scapholunate dissociation, patients are less likely to return to pre-injury occupation and have subjective and objective parameters that are below normally expected values after proximal row carpectomy performed for other conditions.