Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Concurrent Training Enhances Athletes' Strength, Muscle Endurance, and Other Measures

Davis, WJ, Wood, DT, Andrews, RG, Elkind, LM, and Davis, WB. Concurrent training enhances athletes' strength, muscle endurance, and other measures. J Strength Cond Res 22(5): 1487-1502, 2008-We evaluated the effects of concurrent strength and aerobic endurance training on muscle strength and endurance, body composition, and flexibility in female college athletes and compared two concurrent exercise (CE) protocols. Twenty-eight women (mean age, 19.6 years) were divided into two matched groups and evaluated before and after a vigorous, 11-week, 3-days per week CE training program. One group did serial CE consisting of a warm-up, resistance exercises at low heart rate (HR), aerobics, and a range of motion cool down. The other group did integrated CE consisting of aerobics, the same resistance exercises at high HR achieved by cardioacceleration before each set, and the same range of motion cool down. The two protocols were balanced, differing only in the timing and sequence of exercises. Serial CE produced discernible (p < 0.05) increases in lower- (17.2%) and upper- (19.0%) body muscle strength and fat-free mass (FFM) (1.8%) and trends toward greater lower-body muscle endurance (18.2%) and reduced upper-body flexibility (−160.4%). Integrated CE produced discernible increases in lower- (23.3%) and upper- (17.8%) body muscle strength, lower-body muscle endurance (27.8%), FFM (3.3%), and lower-body flexibility (8.4%) and a decline in fat mass (−4.5%) and percent body fat (−5.7%). Integrated CE produced discernibly larger gains than serial CE for six of nine training adaptations. Effect sizes were generally moderate (44.4% of discernible differences) to large (33.3%). We conclude that serial CE produces adaptations greater than those reported in the literature for single-mode (strength) training in athletes, whereas integrated CE produces discernibly greater gains than serial CE. The results suggest synergy rather than interference between concurrent strength and aerobic endurance training, support prescription of CE under defined conditions, establish the importance of exercise timing and sequence for CE program outcomes, and document a highly effective athletic training protocol.
Mitochondrial dysfunction is involved in the aggravation of periodontitis by diabetes

AIM To elucidate whether mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to aggravated periodontitis in diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty-four wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups: control, periodontitis, diabetes, and diabetic periodontitis. Two weeks after induction of diabetes, periodontitis was induced by silk ligation for 2 weeks and thereafter evaluated by assessing alveolar bone loss and apoptosis of periodontium cells. Mitochondrial oxidative stress was detected by MitoSOX staining. Mitochondrial function was determined by measuring ATP production, and by assessing mitochondrial DNA copy number, activities of electron transport chain complexes, and biogenesis with real-time PCR. RESULTS Significantly severer bone loss, enhanced periodontium cell apoptosis, and mitochondrial oxidative stress were found in the rats with diabetic periodontitis than the others. Furthermore, diabetic rats with periodontitis presented severer mitochondrial dysfunction than lean rats with periodontitis, as reflected by compromised ATP production, decreased mitochondrial DNA copy number, reduced gene expression of electron transport chain complex I subunits, and impaired mitochondrial biogenesis (p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis further indicated a close correlation between these mitochondrial events and bone loss in diabetic periodontitis. CONCLUSIONS Mitochondrial dysfunction was positive correlated to aggravated periodontitis in diabetes and might represent a therapeutic target for diabetic periodontitis.
Watchit: simple gestures for interacting with a watchstrap

We present WatchIt, a new interaction technique for wristwatch computers, a category of devices that badly suffers from a scarcity of input surface area. WatchIt considerably increases this surface by extending it from the touch screen to the wristband. The video shows a mockup of how simple gestures on the external and/or internal bands may allow the user to scroll a list (one-finger slide), to select an item (tap), and to set a continuous parameter like the volume of music playing (two-finger slide), avoiding the drawback of screen occlusion by the finger. Also shown is the prototype we are currently using to investigate the usability of our new interaction technique.
Blood pressure and renal function decline: a 7-year prospective cohort study in middle-aged rural Chinese men and women

Background: The most recent guidelines for the management of hypertension (Eighth Joint National Committee) indicate the need of more evidence for hypertensive persons aged below 60 years. We sought to examine the relationship between baseline blood pressure (BP) and renal function decline in a 7-year prospective cohort study of 2383 rural Chinese men and women aged 40–60 years. Methods: Multiple linear and logistic regressions were applied to estimate sex-specific associations between baseline BP level and annual estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) change estimated by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration method and rapid eGFR decline (>3 ml/min per 1.73 m2 per year), respectively. Regression coefficients or odds ratios (ORs) [95% confidence interval (CI)] were presented, with adjustment for age, BMI, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, total cholesterol level, triglycerides, fasting glucose and physical activity level. Furthermore, we examined if the associations varied by baseline eGFR strata. Results: There was a dose–response association between baseline SBP/DBP and annual eGFR decline (P for trend <0.001). When stratified by baseline eGFR strata (low <110 vs. high ≥110), the highest risk of rapid eGFR decline was found in men with low baseline eGFR and SBP above 140 mmHg (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.6–5.1) or DBP above 90 mmHg (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.6–4.6), and there was a significant interaction between baseline SBP/DBP and eGFR strata on renal function decline in men, but not in women. Conclusion: In this prospective cohort of middle-aged Chinese adults, we showed a dose–response relationship between baseline SBP/DBP and eGFR decline without a clear threshold, and such relationship differed remarkably by sex and baseline eGFR level. Men with eGFR below 110 were particularly vulnerable to the adverse renal effects of elevated SBP and DBP.
A Capture-Safe Test Generation Scheme for At-Speed Scan Testing

Capture-safety, defined as the avoidance of any timing error due to unduly high launch switching activity in capture mode during at-speed scan testing, is critical for avoiding test- induced yield loss. Although point techniques are available for reducing capture IR-drop, there is a lack of complete capture-safe test generation flows. The paper addresses this problem by proposing a novel and practical capture-safe test generation scheme, featuring (1) reliable capture-safety checking and (2) effective capture-safety improvement by combining X-bit identification & X-filling with low launch- switching-activity test generation. This scheme is compatible with existing ATPG flows, and achieves capture-safety with no changes in the circuit-under-test or the clocking scheme.
Degradation of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol by Ralstonia eutropha is initiated by an inducible pyrroloquinoline quinone-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase

An organism tentatively identified as Ralstonia eutropha was isolated from enrichment cultures containing tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA) as the sole source of carbon and energy. The strain was able to tolerate up to 200 mM THFA in mineral salt medium. The degradation was initiated by an inducible ferricyanide-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) which was detected in the soluble fraction of cell extracts. The enzyme catalyzed the oxidation of THFA to the corresponding tetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylic acid. Studies with n-pentanol as the substrate revealed that the corresponding aldehyde was released as a free intermediate. The enzyme was purified 211-fold to apparent homogeneity and could be identified as a quinohemoprotein containing one pyrroloquinoline quinone and one covalently bound heme c per monomer. It was a monomer of 73 kDa and had an isoelectric point of 9.1. A broad substrate spectrum was obtained for the enzyme, which converted different primary alcohols, starting from C2 compounds, secondary alcohols, diols, polyethylene glycol 6000, and aldehydes, including formaldehyde. A sequence identity of 65% with a quinohemoprotein ADH from Comamonas testosteroni was found by comparing 36 N-terminal amino acids. The ferricyanide-dependent ADH activity was induced during growth on different alcohols except ethanol. In addition to this activity, an NAD-dependent ADH was present depending on the alcohol used as the carbon source.
Evaluation of governmental infrastructure for deployment of LTE-Advanced in Esteli, Nicaragua

In this work, the use of governmental infrastructure in Esteli, Nicaragua, was evaluated as an alternative for deployment of a LTE-Advance network. The evaluation was carried out through simulations of throughput coverage, Block Error Rate (BLER) and traffic channel quality. Besides, this LTE-Advanced network was compared with another that uses the concept of collocation, a common practice among mobile network operators to introduce new technology. The results obtained in terms of throughput, BLER, and traffic channel quality; As well as the comparison with an LTE-A network that uses collocation principle show that the utilization of governmental infrastructure to deploy LTE-A in Esteli is technically feasible.
The safety and efficacy of intrathecal adenosine in patients with chronic neuropathic pain.

UNLABELLED Adenosine and adenosine analogs decrease pain-like behavior in animal models of both acute nociceptive and neuropathic pain via adenosine receptor activation at spinal and/or supraspinal levels. This open study is the first in a series of intrathecal (IT) adenosine administration studied for the evaluation of efficacy and side effects in 14 patients. All had chronic neuropathic pain with tactile hyperalgesia and/or allodynia primarily of traumatic origin. The effects of IT adenosine (500 microg [n = 9] or 1000 microg [n = 5]) were evaluated. Approximate areas of tactile pain were mapped. Spontaneous and evoked pain (visual analog scale score 0-100) and tactile pain thresholds were assessed before and 60 min after injection. The injection caused transient pain (<60 min) in the lumbar region in five patients. There were no other side effects. Spontaneous and evoked pain was reduced (median score from 65 to 24 [P<0.01] and from 71 to 12 [P<0.01], respectively) in parallel with increased tactile pain thresholds in allodynic areas. Areas of tactile hyperalgesia/allodynia were reduced (median reduction 90%; P<0.001). Twelve patients experienced pain relief (median 24 h). We conclude that IT adenosine transiently causes lumbar pain in a subgroup of patients and may reduce various aspects of chronic neuropathic pain. IMPLICATIONS This is the first series of patients with chronic neuropathic pain in which tolerability to spinal adenosine administration has been evaluated. A subset of patients reported transient low back pain as the only side effect. Spontaneous and evoked pain intensity decreased in most patients, an effect lasting for a median of 24 h.
JAK2 inhibitors in the treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms

Introduction: Dysregulation of JAK-STAT signaling is a pathogenetic hallmark of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) arising from several distinct molecular aberrations, including mutations in JAK2, the thrombopoietin receptor (MPL), mutations in negative regulators of JAK-STAT signaling, such as lymphocyte-specific adapter protein (SH2B3), and epigenetic dysregulation as seen with Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling (SOCS) proteins. In addition, growth factor/cytokine stimulatory events activate JAK-STAT signaling independent of mutations. Areas covered: The various mutations and molecular events activating JAK-STAT signaling in MPNs are reviewed. Detailed inhibitory kinase profiles of the currently developed JAK inhibitors are presented. Clinical trial results for currently developed JAK targeting agents are comprehensively summarized. The limitations of JAK-STAT targeting in MPNs, as well as potential rational combination therapies with JAK2 inhibitors, are discussed. Expert opinion: Aberrant JAK-STAT signaling is an underlying theme in the pathogenesis of MPNs. While JAK2 inhibitors are active in JAK2V617F and wild-type JAK2 MPNs, JAK2V617F mutation-specific or JAK2-selective inhibitors may possess unique clinical attributes. Complimentary targeting of parallel pathways operating in MPNs may offer novel therapeutic approaches in combination with JAK inhibition. Understanding the intricacies of JAK-STAT pathway activation, including growth factor/cytokine-driven signaling, will open new avenues for therapeutic intervention at known and novel molecular vulnerabilities of MPNs.
Antibiotic Resistance Mechanisms Among Pediatric Respiratory and Enteric Pathogens: A Current Update

Antibiotic resistance is a continually increasing problem that has, to a greater or lesser extent, affected virtually every area of the world. The scientific literature is abundant with papers related to antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Many excellent papers and reviews have been published during the past few years, and the literature base continues to expand at rapid speed. This review is meant to provide a recent update on antibiotic resistance among respiratory and enteric pathogens, with a focus on infections in children. Not a small task, but this paper is not meant to be exhaustive. Rather, the intention is to highlight the key antibiotics and antibiotic resistance mechanisms that are currently the most relevant to pediatrics. The most recently published literature is used wherever possible, and the reader is encouraged to explore specific topics of interest further by reviewing the referenced literature.
Concurrent Medullary, Papillary, and Follicular Thyroid Carcinomas and Simultaneous Cushing's Syndrome

Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common thyroid cancer (85%). Follicular thyroid carcinoma is the second most common type of thyroid cancer, accounting for up to 10% of all thyroid cancers. Medullary thyroid carcinoma accounts for only 5-8% of thyroid cancers. Concurrent medullary, follicular, and papillary carcinomas of the thyroid gland are extremely rare and reported scarcely. Case Report: A 72-year-old male presented with nonspecific neck pain. The workup revealed a nodular thyroid gland with a follicular lesion on fine-needle aspiration. Total thyroidectomy was performed and pathological examination identified a 25-mm follicular carcinoma, two papillary microcarcinomas, and two medullary microcarcinomas. The genetic workup was negative and no other family members were diagnosed with any endocrinopathy. Two months after surgery, the patient was diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome that was treated with laparoscopic left adrenalectomy. On 3-year follow-up, the patient is asymptomatic with no evidence of recurrent disease. Conclusion: We present a rare case of a patient with follicular, papillary, and medullary thyroid carcinoma, and Cushing's syndrome. To date, no known genetic mutation or syndrome can account for this combination of neoplastic thyroid and adrenal pathologies, although future research may prove differently.
Bronchoalveolar lavage in children with inflammatory and non inflammatory lung disease.

BACKGROUND Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a useful bronchoscopic technique. Studies in "normal" children are limited. AIM To provide data on BAL reference values from Greek children and compare BAL cellular and noncellular components in children with inflammatory and non-inflammatory lung diseases. METHODS Seventy two children, aged 2.5 months to 16 years, underwent diagnostic bronchoscopy and BAL. Patients were divided in two groups whether lung inflammation was absent or present. Differential cytology, flow cytometry for lymphocyte subsets and cytokine and chemokine measurements were performed on BAL fluid. RESULTS Alveolar macrophages were the predominant cellular population in normal children. Patients with inflammatory pneumonopathies had significantly more neutrophils. There was no difference in lymphocyte subpopulations. Values of CD4+/CD8+ ratio in BAL was similar to that reported in adults. Levels of IL-8 and TNF- alpha were significantly higher in children with inflammatory lung diseases. CONCLUSION This study provides the first data on BAL of "normal" Greek children. BAL from patients with pulmonary inflammation was characterised by neutrophilia. Finally, we propose that measurement of IL-8 and TNF-a levels in BAL could help in early identification of inflammation in the tracheobronchial tree.
Induction of psychosis by Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol reflects modulation of prefrontal and striatal function during attentional salience processing.

CONTEXT The aberrant processing of salience is thought to be a fundamental factor underlying psychosis. Cannabis can induce acute psychotic symptoms, and its chronic use may increase the risk of schizophrenia. We investigated whether its psychotic effects are mediated through an influence on attentional salience processing. OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) on regional brain function during salience processing. DESIGN Volunteers were studied using event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging on 3 occasions after administration of Δ9-THC, CBD, or placebo while performing a visual oddball detection paradigm that involved allocation of attention to infrequent (oddball) stimuli within a string of frequent (standard) stimuli. SETTING University center. PARTICIPANTS Fifteen healthy men with minimal previous cannabis use. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Symptom ratings, task performance, and regional brain activation. RESULTS During the processing of oddball stimuli, relative to placebo, Δ9-THC attenuated activation in the right caudate but augmented it in the right prefrontal cortex. Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol also reduced the response latency to standard relative to oddball stimuli. The effect of Δ9-THC in the right caudate was negatively correlated with the severity of the psychotic symptoms it induced and its effect on response latency. The effects of CBD on task-related activation were in the opposite direction of those of Δ9-THC; relative to placebo, CBD augmented left caudate and hippocampal activation but attenuated right prefrontal activation. CONCLUSIONS Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and CBD differentially modulate prefrontal, striatal, and hippocampal function during attentional salience processing. These effects may contribute to the effects of cannabis on psychotic symptoms and on the risk of psychotic disorders.
Interferon-gamma is associated with hepatic dysfunction in fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma

ABSTRACT The relation between interferon–gamma (IFN-γ) levels and the severity of liver diseases through fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been fully clarified. Thus, we aimed to characterize IFN-γ levels in liver-diseased patients. IFN-γ levels were determined by Western-blot and ELISA in sera from 30 healthy individuals, 53 patients with non-significant fibrosis (F0-F1), 47 with moderate/severe fibrosis (F2-F3), 44 cirrhotic patients (F4), and 50 with HCC. Enhanced levels of IFN-γ were associated with the progression of liver disease. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.0001) when patients with F2-F3, F4, or HCC were compared with F0-F1 or healthy controls. The increase in IFN-γ was associated with HCC (OR = 0.98, 95% CI 0.97–0.99, P = 0.002). There was no statistically significant association between IFN-γ levels and HCV-RNA (IU/ml) (r = 0.1, P = 0.43) or HCV-NS4 (µg/mL) (r = 0.1, P = 0.17). There was significant (P < 0.0001) association between IFN-γ levels and the fibrosis stages and activity, albumin, platelet count, total bilirubin, and international normalized ratio (INR). In conclusion, elevated concentrations of IFN-γ represent a characteristic feature of liver disease severity regardless of underlying disease. Significant correlations with indices of hepatic dysfunction suggest that enhanced IFN-γ levels represent a consequence of liver dysfunction rather than of inflammatory disease.
Mouse and human phenotypes indicate a critical conserved role for ERK2 signaling in neural crest development

Disrupted ERK1/2 (MAPK3/MAPK1) MAPK signaling has been associated with several developmental syndromes in humans; however, mutations in ERK1 or ERK2 have not been described. We demonstrate haplo-insufficient ERK2 expression in patients with a novel ≈1 Mb micro-deletion in distal 22q11.2, a region that includes ERK2. These patients exhibit conotruncal and craniofacial anomalies that arise from perturbation of neural crest development and exhibit defects comparable to the DiGeorge syndrome spectrum. Remarkably, these defects are replicated in mice by conditional inactivation of ERK2 in the developing neural crest. Inactivation of upstream elements of the ERK cascade (B-Raf and C-Raf, MEK1 and MEK2) or a downstream effector, the transcription factor serum response factor resulted in analogous developmental defects. Our findings demonstrate that mammalian neural crest development is critically dependent on a RAF/MEK/ERK/serum response factor signaling pathway and suggest that the craniofacial and cardiac outflow tract defects observed in patients with a distal 22q11.2 micro-deletion are explained by deficiencies in neural crest autonomous ERK2 signaling.
Selecting an Exposure Lag Period

In epidemiology, there is an inclination to consider more credible the larger estimates of exposure effect. For example, higher relative risks or rate ratios are often emphasized as a criterion for choosing among various hypothesized exposurelag values. An alternative criterion for this choice might be based on a goodness-of-fit measure. We present examples, based on hypothetical data, in which an exposure-lag parameter is estimated by trial and error fitting: we compare the behavior of the likelihood-ratio goodness-of-fit statistic obtained over the assigned values of the parameter with that of the relative risk. We show that there can be inconsistencies between the highest-estimate and likelihood-based goodness-of-fit criteria. Concern about the validity of the highest-estimate criterion prompts us to recommend that this criterion not be used for the estimation of exposure-weighting parameters, which should preferably be based on a priori biological knowledge or on goodness-of-fit criteria.