Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Ambient Temperature on Pacing in Soccer Depends on Skill Level

Abstract Link, D and Weber, H. Effect of ambient temperature on pacing in soccer depends on skill level. J Strength Cond Res 31(7): 1766–1770, 2017—This study examines the influence ambient temperature has on the distances covered by players in soccer matches. For this purpose, 1,211 games from the top German professional leagues were analyzed over the course of the seasons 2011/12 and 2012/13 using an optical tracking system. Data show (a) significant differences in the total distance covered (TDC, in meters per 10 minutes) between the 1. Bundesliga (M = 1,225) and 2. Bundesliga (M = 1,201) and (b) a significant decrease in TDC from neutral (−4 to 13° C, M = 1,229) to warm (≥14° C, M = 1,217) environments. The size of the temperature effect is greater in the 1. Bundesliga (d = 0.30 vs. d = 0.16), although these players presumably have a higher level of fitness. This suggests that better players reduce their exertion level to a greater extent, thus preserving their ability to undertake the high-intensity activities when called upon. No reduction in running performance due to cold (⩽5° C) temperatures was observed.
Treatment time reduction using tandem shockwaves for lithotripsy: an in vivo study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Reducing extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) time by increasing the shockwave rate of the lithotripter has been tested in the past; however, basic research and treatment outcomes revealed that this is not convenient. The purpose of this study was to use an animal model to demonstrate that SWL treatment time can be reduced significantly without sacrificing stone fragmentation efficiency using tandem shockwaves. MATERIALS AND METHODS A tandem research lithotripter was used to treat 50 artificial kidney stones implanted into the kidneys of 50 rabbits. Standard single-pulse and tandem shockwaves were compared in two different scenarios: Without a fluid-filled expansion chamber and with a fluid-filled expansion chamber surrounding the stone. RESULTS The presence of fluid surrounding the stone enhances fragmentation in both the standard and tandem modes. No significant difference in fragmentation efficiency was recorded between the standard and tandem SWL with stones surrounded by fluid; however, the treatment time with tandem shockwaves was reduced by 50%. CONCLUSIONS Significantly shorter SWL treatments may be possible in the future using tandem shockwaves on urinary stones that are surrounded by fluid.
Features Distinguishing Epstein-Barr Virus Infections of Epithelial Cells and B Cells: Viral Genome Expression, Genome Maintenance, and Genome Amplification

ABSTRACT Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with malignant diseases of lymphoid and epithelial cell origin. The tropism of EBV is due to B-cell-restricted expression of CD21, the major receptor molecule for the virus. However, efficient infection of CD21− epithelial cells can be achieved via transfer from EBV-coated B cells. We compare and contrast here the early events following in vitro infection of primary B cells and epithelial cells. Using sensitive, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR assays for several latent and lytic transcripts and two-color immunofluorescence staining to analyze expression at the single cell level, we confirmed and extended previous reports indicating that the two cell types support different patterns of transcription. Furthermore, whereas infection of B cells with one or two copies of EBV resulted in rapid amplification of the viral genome to >20 copies per cell, such amplification was not normally observed after infection of primary epithelial cells or undifferentiated epithelial lines. In epithelial cells, EBNA1 expression was detected in only ca. 40% of EBER+ cells, and the EBV genome was subsequently lost during prolonged culture. One exception was that infection of AGS, a gastric carcinoma line, resulted in maintenance of EBNA1 expression and amplification of the EBV episome. In contrast to B cells, where amplification of the EBV episome occurred even with a replication-defective BZLF1-knockout virus, amplification in AGS cells was dependent upon early lytic cycle gene expression. These data highlight the influence of the host cell on the outcome of EBV infection with regard to genome expression, amplification, and maintenance.
Low-Level Feature Extraction for Edge Detection Using Genetic Programming

Edge detection is a subjective task. Traditionally, a moving window approach is used, but the window size in edge detection is a tradeoff between localization accuracy and noise rejection. An automatic technique for searching a discriminated pixel's neighbors to construct new edge detectors is appealing to satisfy different tasks. In this paper, we propose a genetic programming (GP) system to automatically search pixels (a discriminated pixel and its neighbors) to construct new low-level subjective edge detectors for detecting edges in natural images, and analyze the pixels selected by the GP edge detectors. Automatically searching pixels avoids the problem of blurring edges from a large window and noise influence from a small window. Linear and second-order filters are constructed from the pixels with high occurrences in these GP edge detectors. The experiment results show that the proposed GP system has good performance. A comparison between the filters with the pixels selected by GP and all pixels in a fixed window indicates that the set of pixels selected by GP is compact but sufficiently rich to construct good edge detectors.
RFLP Analysis of mtDNA from Six Platyrrhine Genera: Phylogenetic Inferences

This study investigates the phylogenetic relationships of 10 species of platyrrhine primates using RFLP analysis of mtDNA. Three restriction enzymes were used to determine the restriction site haplotypes for a total of 276 individuals. Phylogenetic analysis using maximum parsimony was employed to construct phylogenetic trees. We found close phylogenetic relationships between Alouatta, Lagothrix and Ateles. We also found a close relationship between Cebus and Aotus, with Saimiri clustering with the atelines. Haplotype diversity was found in four of the species studied, in Cebus albifrons, Saimiri sciureus, Lagothrix lagotricha and Ateles fusciceps. These data provide additional information concerning the phylogenetic relationships between these platyrrhine genera and species.
The Effect of Exchange Rate Volatility on Stock Return in Taiwan Around Abenomics

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between stock returns, exchange rates and financial ratios in the automotive and integrated circuit industries in Taiwan around the introduction of Abenomics. We employ panel data from 34 listed companies on the Taiwan Security Exchange over the period 2011-2014. The Panel Smooth Transition Regression (PSTR) model is utilized to estimate the threshold of exchange rates and its effect on stock returns. The main finding of this paper shows that there exists an efficient hedge regime. When the Abenomics applied a policy of quantitative easing to instigate a sharp depreciation of the yen, the effects of the policies absolutely bring out benefit and competitive advantage of Japanese export industries. The depreciation of the exchange rate against other currencies would affect a country? s international competitive advantage or exports. If Taiwan exchange rate does not follow the depreciation of the yen and the levels of the exchange rate volatility in the automotive and integrated circuits industries in Taiwan are over 2.30% and 2.72% appreciation, respectively, the both industries will generate exchange losses and further influence the profit of the companies. Therefore, the main contribution of this paper is to provide a means for CEOs of companies in the two industries to exercise hedge options and evade the risk of exchange rate for their firms when the appreciation of currency are over 2.3% and 2.72% for automotive and integrated circuits industries, respectively.
Colorectal cancer management - the role of the GP.

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) contributes significantly to the morbidity and mortality of Australians. The introduction of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program has focussed attention on the role of the general practitioner in CRC screening. However, their increasing role across the management spectrum of CRC remains poorly researched. OBJECTIVE This article examines the published literature on the existing and potential roles of the GP in the detection and management of CRC. Evidence about the existing and potential role of the GP was found through a literature search on Medline, PubMed, epidemiological evidence and recent guidelines. DISCUSSION The role of the GP in CRC management varies. Some GPs play many roles such as advocate, facilitator, supporter, educator and counsellor. The role of the GP is influenced by GP-specialist communication, practice location, and patient and GP factors. There is a potential to increase this role, especially in providing psychosocial support and counselling for both the patient and their family.
Alpha-adrenergic blockade improves recovery of myocardial perfusion and function after coronary stenting in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND AMI reperfusion by thrombolysis does not improve TIMI flow and LV function. The role of infarct-related artery (IRA) stenosis and superimposed changes in coronary vasomotor tone in maintaining LV dysfunction must be elucidated. METHODS AND RESULTS Forty patients underwent diagnostic angiography 24 hours after thrombolysis. Seventy-two hours after thrombolysis, the culprit lesion was dilated with coronary stenting. During angioplasty, LV function was monitored by transesophageal echocardiography. Percent regional systolic thickening was quantitatively assessed before PTCA, soon after stenting, 15 minutes after stenting, and after phentolamine 12 microg/kg IC (n=10), the alpha1-blocker urapidil 600 microg/kg IV (n=10), or saline (n=10). Ten patients pretreated with beta-blockers received urapidil 10 mg IC. Coronary stenting significantly improved thickening in IRA-dependent and in non-IRA-dependent myocardium (from 27+/-15% to 38+/-16% and from 40+/-15% to 45+/-15%, respectively). Simultaneously, TIMI frame count decreased from 39+/-11 and 40+/-11 in the IRA and non-IRA, respectively, to 23+/-10 and 25+/-7 (P<0.05). Fifteen minutes after stenting, thickening worsened in both IRA- and non-IRA-dependent myocardium (to 19+/-14% and 28+/-14%, P<0.05), and TIMI frame count returned, in both the IRA and non-IRA, to the values obtained before stenting. Phentolamine and urapidil increased thickening to 36+/-17% and 41+/-14% in IRA and to 48+/-11% and 49+/-17% in non-IRA myocardium respectively, and TIMI frame count decreased to 16+/-6 and to 17+/-5, respectively. Changes were attenuated with beta-blocker pretreatment. CONCLUSIONS Our finding that alpha-adrenergic blockade attenuates vasoconstriction and postischemic LV dysfunction supports the hypothesis of an important role of neural mechanisms in this phenomenon.
Ribosomal P protein P0 as a candidate for the target antigen of anti-endothelial cell antibodies in mixed connective tissue disease.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the presence of anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) in patients with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) compared to those with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to determine the candidates for the endothelial auto-antigen that reacts with AECA in patients with MCTD using a molecular cloning strategy. METHODS AECA were measured by a cellular enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using fixed human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in 47 MCTD patients, 68 SSc patients, and 52 normal controls. A HUVEC cDNA expression library was immunoscreened with pooled sera from 6 patients with high AECA levels determined by cellular ELISA to explore the endothelial autoantigens in MCTD. An ELISA assay for anti-ribosomal protein P0 antibodies was used to assess the correlation with AECA levels. RESULTS The candidate target proteins recognized by AECA in MCTD included: (i) ribosomal protein P0; (ii) a putative oncogene derived from dek mRNA; (iii) SS-B/La protein; (iv) U1 RNA-associated 70K protein; and (v) DNA-binding protein B. A significant correlation between the levels of AECA and anti-ribosomal protein P0 antibodies was demon-strated in MCTD, but not in systemic sclerosis. The sera containing high levels of AECA from patients with MCTD frequently cross-reacted with ribosomal protein P0. On the other hand, sera without AECA activity from patients with MCTD never reacted with ribosomal protein P0. CONCLUSION AECA were more frequently seen in patients with MCTD than in patients with SSc. Ribosomal protein P0 may be one of the major target antigens of AECA in patients with MCTD.
Urine Production Rate and Renal Blood Flow in the Near-Term Ovine Fetus Are Not Related to High and Low Voltage Electrocortical Activity

Studies in both the human and ovine near-term fetus have identified the clustering of physiologic and behavioral parameters into states. In a recent study in the human fetus a considerable decrease was found in fetal urine production during nonrapid eye movement (non-REM) compared with REM sleep. Whether this decrease was caused by decreased renal blood flow or changes in urine concentration is not known. This prompted us to investigate the relation between fetal urine production rate and electrocortical activity in the near-term ovine fetus. We hypothesized that in the ovine fetus urine production and renal blood flow during REM [comparable to low voltage electrocortical activity (LV ECoG)] would be lower than during non-REM [(high voltage (HV) ECoG)]. In eight fetal sheep between 123 and 127 d of gestation(term 147 d), ECoG, renal blood flow, urine flow, and urine osmolality were measured continuously for 6 h on 2 consecutive days. Data were analyzed into HV ECoG and LV ECoG whereafter urine flow, urine osmolality, and renal blood flow data were averaged per state. We found no significant differences in urine flow, urine osmolality, or renal blood flow between the two behavioral states in the ovine fetus. Because these data are in sharp contrast to those found in the human fetus, we conclude that the observed dissimilarities in renal responses between the human and sheep fetus add to the already known differences in behavioral states between the two species.
Feature matching using quasi-conformal maps

We present a fully automatic method for finding geometrically consistent correspondences while discarding outliers from the candidate point matches in two images. Given a set of candidate matches provided by scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) descriptors, which may contain many outliers, our goal is to select a subset of these matches retaining much more geometric information constructed by a mapping searched in the space of all diffeomorphisms. This problem can be formulated as a constrained optimization involving both the Beltrami coefficient (BC) term and quasi-conformal map, and solved by an efficient iterative algorithm based on the variable splitting method. In each iteration, we solve two subproblems, namely a linear system and linearly constrained convex quadratic programming. Our algorithm is simple and robust to outliers. We show that our algorithm enables producing more correct correspondences experimentally compared with state-of-the-art approaches.
Campylobacter pyloridis and gastritis: association with intercellular spaces and adaptation to an environment of mucus as important factors in colonization of the gastric epithelium.

Stomach biopsy specimens from greater than 40 individuals with Campylobacter pyloridis-associated gastritis were examined by light and electron microscopy. The bacteria were consistently seen in two locations: within the gastric mucus and associated with intercellular junctions of gastric epithelial cells. C. pyloridis is suggested to be one of a broad group of spiral bacteria that are adapted to the peculiar niche provided by intestinal mucus. The spiral morphology and the form of motility of these organisms give them a selective advantage in a viscous environment. This point has been demonstrated in vitro by measurement of the velocity of clinical isolates in solutions of methyl cellulose of varying viscosity. The localization of C. pyloridis close to intercellular junctions is proposed to be due to the presence of preferred metabolites or growth factors, e.g., urea and hemin. All isolates show an extremely high urease activity and require hemin for growth.
Ergodic Capacity Optimization for Single-Stream Beamforming Transmission in MISO Rician Fading Channels

The maximization of the ergodic capacity for single-stream beamforming, which is a (constrained) transmission scheme referred to as “optimum beamforming,” has been extensively addressed in the open literature for multiple-input-single-output (MISO) Rayleigh fading channels and spatially uncorrelated MISO Rician fading channels with a unit transmit covariance matrix, and closed-form solutions have been derived for these cases. However, optimum beamforming for spatially correlated or uncorrelated MISO Rician fading channels with a nonunit transmit covariance matrix has received less attention and remains a complex multidimensional optimization problem. This paper first proves that this convex constrained optimization problem can be reduced to only one dimension; hence, it can be solved very fast using standard 1-D search algorithms. Then, simulations mainly performed for linear equispaced antenna arrays demonstrate that: 1) the proposed method for the calculation of the optimum beamformer has significantly lower computational complexity compared with other currently used multidimensional algorithms; and 2) the optimum beamformer further improves capacity compared with the (single-stream) beamforming transmission that maximizes the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the receiver, whereas in some operational environments, it achieves ergodic capacity that is very close or equal to the maximum ergodic capacity.
An Empirical Study on the Marginal Consumption Tendencies of the Urban Residents of Our Country

The author improves ELES model,using the improved ELES model and Panel Data estimates the basic demand of urban residents of China from 2002 to 2005 for each kind of consumer goods,figures out the marginal consumption tendency of each income group for each kind of consumer goods and all consumer goods in each year and the average marginal consumption tendency in each year and that of each income group,and makes a brief analysis of all kinds of marginal consumption tendencies.
Cutting Edge: CD28 and c-Rel–Dependent Pathways Initiate Regulatory T Cell Development

Regulatory T cell (Treg) development proceeds via a two-step process in which naive CD4+ thymocytes are first converted into CD4+CD25+CD122+GITR+Foxp3− Treg progenitors, followed by a second step in which IL-2 converts these Treg progenitors into CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs. The costimulatory molecule CD28 is required for efficient Treg development. However, the stage at which CD28 affects Treg development remains undefined. In this article, we demonstrate that Cd28−/− mice lack Treg progenitors. Furthermore, the P187YAP motif in the cytoplasmic tail of CD28, which links CD28 to Lck activation, is required for this process. In contrast, the Y170MNM motif, which links CD28 to PI3K activation, is not required for Treg progenitor development. Finally, the CD28/Lck pathway was shown to activate the NF-κB family of transcription factors. We demonstrate that c-Rel, but not NF-κB1, promotes the development of Treg progenitors. Thus, a CD28/c-Rel–dependent pathway is involved in initiating Treg development.
Comparison of urinary albumin excretion rate in overnight urine and albumin creatinine ratio in spot urine in diabetic patients in general practice

Objective - To evaluate whether measurement of albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) on a spot urine specimen can replace a timed overnight collection of urine albumin excretion rate (UAER) in patients with diabetes in primary care. Design - Patients with diabetes attending Rønvik Health Centre were asked to bring a timed overnight collection of urine for measurement of UAER. They were also asked to void a urine specimen for measurement of albumin creatinine ratio. Setting - Primary health care. Subjects - One-hundred-and-six persons with diabetes (47 women, 59 men) aged 13 to 78 years. Results - The sensitivity and specificity of ACR with cut-off values of 2.5 mg/mmol for men and 3.5 mg/mmol for women compared to UAER with cut-off value of 20 mg/24 h was 90%. Conclusions - Spot urine ACR analysed on a DCA 2000 can replace a timed (overnight) collection of urine and measurement of UAER when diabetic patients are reviewed in general practice. This simplifies procedures for the patient as a timed urine collection is no longer necessary. Another advantage is that the results are available after 7 min.
Effect of Ursolic Acid on MAPK in Cyclin D1 Signaling and RING-Type E3 Ligase (SCF E3s) in Two Endometrial Cancer Cell Lines

Cyclin D1 regulates G1 progression and is important in the development and proliferation of various human cancers. Cyclin D1 gene expression is activated by the Ras kinase cascade. Nuclear cyclin D1 levels are dependent on cytoplasmic degradation of cyclin D1 via ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. We sought to determine whether the important MAPK signaling pathway, in the cyclin D1 cascade, including FBXW8, Cullin1, and the ubiquitination pathway mediated these effects. Ursolic acid (UA) treatment of SNG-2 cells, an endometrial cancer cell line, decreased cyclin D1, pERK1/2, FBXW8, and Cullin1 levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner. RING-type E3 ligase consists of CulIin1, Rbx, Skp1, and a member of the F-box protein family. In SNG-2, both dose- and time-dependent inhibition of Rbx 1 were observed following treatment with UA. Moreover, in HEC108 cells, another endometrial cancer cell line, UA treatment decreased cyclin D1, pERK1/2, and Cullin1 levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner and UA markedly inhibited FBXW8. Treatment of HEC108 cells moderately decreased Rbx1 in a dose- and-time-dependent fashion. In contrast, UA treatment increased ubiquitinated proteins in a dose- and time-dependent manner in both cell lines. RING-type E3 ligase accumulated in the cytoplasm following UA treatment of SNG-2cells. That in turn prevented cytoplasmic degradation of cyclin D1 via RING-type E3 (SCF E3s) ligase. In conclusion, our study found inhibition of the MAPK- cyclin D1 pathway and RING type E3 ligase (SCF E3s) in both endometrial cancer cell lines. Furthermore, CD36 was noted as a cell surface receptor for UA.
Spinal GABAergic Mechanisms in the Effects of Spinal Cord Stimulation in a Rodent Model of Neuropathic Pain: Is GABA Synthesis Involved?

The effects of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) on the spinal γ‐amino butyric acid (GABA) system have previously been studied in animal models of neuropathic pain. These studies, confirming the pivotal role of segmental GABA actions for the efficacy of SCS, have led to the question if the disturbance of the GABA inhibitory system as demonstrated both in basal and clinical studies also encompasses malfunction of the GABA synthesis.