Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RETROSPECTIVE INJURY EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ONE HUNDRED ONE COMPETITIVE OCEANIA POWER LIFTERS: THE EFFECTS OF AGE,BODY MASS, COMPETITIVE STANDARD, AND GENDER

The injury epidemiology of competitive power lifters was investigated to provide a basis for injury prevention initiatives in power lifting. Self-reported retrospective injury data for 1 year and selected biographical and training information were obtained via a 4-page injury survey from 82 men and 19 women of varying ages (Open and Masters), body masses (lightweight and heavyweight), and competitive standards (national and international). Injury was defined as any physical damage to the body that caused the lifter to miss or modify one or more training sessions or miss a competition. A total of 118 injuries, which equated to 1.2 ± 1.1 injuries per lifter per year and 4.4 ± 4.8 injuries per 1,000 hours of training, were reported. The most commonly injured body regions were the shoulder (36%), lower back (24%), elbow (11%), and knee (9%). More injuries appeared to be of a sudden (acute) (59%) rather than gradual (chronic) nature (41%). National competitors had a significantly greater rate of injury (5.8 ± 4.9 per 1,000 hours) than international competitors (3.6 ± 3.6 per 1,000 hours). The relative proportion of injuries at some body regions varied significantly as a function of competitive standard and gender. No significant differences in injury profile were seen between Open and Masters or between lightweight and heavyweight lifters. Power lifting appears to have a moderately low risk of injury, regardless of the lifter's age, body mass, competitive standard, or gender, compared with other sports. Future research should utilize a prospective cohort or case-controlled design to examine the effect of a range of other intrinsic and extrinsic factors on injury epidemiology and to assess the effects of various intervention strategies.
Optimized BP neural network state feedback control with time delay for offshore platforms under wave forces

This paper designs a vibration controller based on back propagation neural network (BPNN) for jacket-type offshore platforms with time delay. The offshore structure is simplified into a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) system and transformed into a non-delay model. With an system designed to describe wave forces in the context of Morison equation and wave theory, the original vibration control is formulated as the optimal control. It's a linear discrete-time system affected by wave forces as external disturbances. A BPNN vibration controller is designed based on a state feedback optimal control law with memory (SFOCLM). BPNN is the most common recurrent neural network (RNN), which has been widely applied in controlling with strong capability of adaptive approximation as the tuning rule for updating weights and thresholds of the network is derived to approximate the dynamics of the control system. Data of the SFOCLM are sampled to train the BPNN and the simulation results can prove the feasibility and efficiency in attenuating vibrations. Compared to the standard BPNN, this algorithm is integrated with additional momentum method, adaptive learning rate method and supervised augmented inputting method, and is proved having better performance.
Afazja i jej mózgowe mechanizmy

Danuta KĄDZIELAWA University of Warsaw Aphasia and its cerebral mechanisms Human linguistic disorders have been studied since the earliest stages of natural history. The classical phase of ‘aphasiology’ was initiated in 1860, when Paul Broka presented a neurological patient with profound disorders of expressive speech, and is said to have come to an end in 1950, preceding the dynamic development of new interdisciplinary research on speech and language. Subsequently, disciplines like neurolinguistics and cognitive neuroscience led to investigations into the relations between language, speech acts, and mechanisms related to the brain (encephalon), which were explored in both neurological patients and healthy individuals. Development of theoretical approaches together with further research on the cognitive representation of language as a system and its application in social communication, led to a change in perspectives. As a result, the relationship between these representations and cerebral structures has been re-examined, and the activity of the encephalon is now more frequently considered in terms of neuronal network models.
Mapping a class of run-time dependencies onto regular arrays

The production of regular computations using algorithmic engineering techniques is beginning to play an important role in the synthesis of massively parallel and VLSI processor arrays. The author widens the class of algorithms that can be formally synthesized by introducing a mapping theorem for a class of algorithms with run-time dependencies. The technique is illustrated by deriving uniform recurrences for the so-called knapsack problem, the resulting systolic array is known to be optimal. <<ETX>>
Use of chitosan conduit for bridging small-gap peripheral nerve defect in sciatic nerve transection model of rat.

Objective-To evaluate effect of chitosan conduit for peripheral nerve regeneration using sciatic nerve transection model in rat Design- Experimental in vivo study. Animals- Sixty healthy male Wistar rats. Procedures-The rats were divided into four experimental groups (n=15) randomly. In sham group the left sciatic nerve was exposed through a gluteal muscle incision and after careful homeostasis the wound was sutured. In transected control group the left sciatic nerve was exposed the same way, transected proximal to the tibio-peroneal bifurcation leaving a 10 mm gap and the nerve ends were sutured to the adjacent muscles. In silicone or chitosan groups the left sciatic nerve was transected the same way and proximal and distal stumps were each inserted into a silicone or chitosan tube. Each group was further subdivided into three subgroups of five animals each and were studied 4, 8, 12 weeks post operatively. Results- Functional and electrophysiological analyses showed significant improvement of nerve function in chitosan than in silicone group (P < 0.05). Morphometric indices and immuohistochemistry indicated that there were significant differences (P < 0.05) between chitosan and silicone with transected control groups 12 weeks after surgery. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance- Chitosan conduit could be considered clinically as an effective biodegradable tube for peripheral nerve regeneration in the least harmful way that is available, easily performed and affordable. It also averts the need for foreign materials that are likely to provoke a foreign body reaction.
Performances and trends in millimeter-wave CMOS voltage controlled oscillators

A review on millimeter-wave CMOS voltage controlled oscillators is presented in this paper. Current state of the art implementations are reviewed and their performances are compared. Low power and low phase noise LC-VCO and ring oscillator designs are analyzed and discussed. VCO design and performance trends over the last years are provided and discussed. The review shows how in the higher region of the millimetre-wave frequency spectrum over 60 GHz ring oscillators exhibit performance close and comparable to those achievable by LC-VCOs.
Diagnostic Implications of Antigen-Induced Gamma Interferon Production by Blood Leukocytes from Mycobacterium bovis-Infected Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

ABSTRACT The only approved method of tuberculosis (TB) surveillance of reindeer within the United States is tuberculin skin testing; however, skin testing has an apparent lack of specificity, since numerous reindeer are classified as reactors, yet Mycobacterium bovis is not isolated from tissues upon necropsy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of an in vitro assay (the Cervigam assay) to detect gamma interferon (IFN-γ) produced by blood leukocytes in response to mycobacterial antigens from M. bovis-infected reindeer. Thirteen male reindeer ∼9 months of age were inoculated with 105 CFU M. bovis in their tonsillar crypts. Stimulation of whole-blood cultures with a mitogen resulted in significant production of IFN-γ compared to that by nonstimulated samples. Responses by infected reindeer to M. bovis purified protein derivative (PPD) were as much as 3.5-fold higher than those by noninfected reindeer (n = 4). Despite differences in responses to PPD by the two groups, reindeer within the noninfected group had responses of >0.1 change in optical density (ΔOD) (a level generally considered positive) to PPD. Mean responses by infected reindeer to a rESAT-6-CFP-10 fusion protein (Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex specific) were as much as 20-fold higher than respective responses by noninfected reindeer at all time points. Additionally, responses by 3/4 noninfected reindeer were <0.1 ΔOD (considered negative) at each time point. To further evaluate the specificity of the assay, samples were collected from reindeer in a TB-free herd. All reindeer had responses to mitogen; however, only 1 of 38 had a response to PPD, and none of the reindeer responded to rESAT-6-CFP-10. Together, these findings indicate that IFN-γ-based tests may prove useful for TB surveillance of reindeer.
Geographic Variation in Early MRI for Acute Work-Related Low Back Pain and Associated Factors

Study design. Retrospective cohort study using medical claims data. Objective. To document the extent of geographic variation in utilization of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for working-age patients early in the course of acute, disabling low back pain (LBP); to identify potential factors associated with the most extreme variations. Summary of Background Data. Although guidelines discourage MRI in acute uncomplicated LBP, this practice is highly prevalent. Geographic variation in radiologic testing is common, and may indicate problems with access or quality of care, yet this has not been studied in working-age patients with LBP (a frequent cause for acute care visits). Methods. All cases of acute, disabling LBP with onset between 1/1/2002 and 12/31/2007 were selected from a large workers’ compensation data source. Detailed information from medical bills was used to identify persons who received early MRI (within 30 days of onset), classify cases by LBP severity, and exclude those with concurrent injuries or diseases, and/or prior LBP disability. Individual predictors included age, gender, job tenure, and industry. State-level predictors included economic, physician supply and practice variables, workers compensation system features, and MRI testing location. Generalized linear mixed models were constructed to evaluate within- and between-state variability, selecting the six highest and six lowest MRI utilization states. Results. State rates of early MRI scanning varied from 6.0% to 58.4%. In the 12 selected most extreme states, non-hospital MRI sites and lower state median income were associated with higher rates of early MRIs, explaining 84% of between-state variation, and 12.5% of all observed variability. Inter-state differences in MRI rates were greatest for lower-severity cases. Higher severity diagnoses were more common in high utilization states. Conclusions. Between-state inappropriate early MRI variability is largely explained by rate of non-hospital MRI sites and state median income. Potential solutions include efforts to address inappropriate referral patterns based on private MRI facility ownership, and to improve quality of communication with low-income patients. Level of Evidence: 4
Influence of antenna array constellation on the accuracy of angle-of-arrival estimation in a multipath environment

Angle-of-arrival estimation is a widely used localisation method. However, multipath propagation leads to decreased performance. In this paper an expression for the Cramer- Rao lower bound for angle-of-arrival estimation with a known transmitted signal in a two path environment is derived. The influence of array structure on the achievable accuracy and the capability of signal separation is investigated. It is shown that sparse array structures provide a lower Cramer-Rao bound as long as uniqueness is preserved.
An Essential Role for Cdc42 in the Functioning of the Adult Mammary Gland*

The Rho family small GTPase Cdc42 has been implicated in a wide range of cellular functions including the establishment of cell polarity and the remodeling of the actin cytoskeletal architecture, resulting in the tight regulation of cell growth and survival during developmental processes. The complete knock-out of Cdc42 in the mouse is embryonic-lethal, and its targeted deletion in various tissues has been shown to disrupt tissue homeostasis. Thus far, in most studies, the targeted deletion of Cdc42 occurred during embryogenesis. Here, we have used a conditional gene deletion strategy in mice to probe the specific role of Cdc42 during adult mammary gland function. Cdc42 conditional-knock-out females were unable to adequately nourish their pups, due to a disorganized epithelial compartment within their mammary glands. A closer examination showed that their mammary epithelial cells were not able to maintain functional alveolar lumens, due to an inability to establish normal apical/basal epithelial polarity, as well as proper cell-cell contacts. Loss of these essential epithelial characteristics led to a premature sloughing off of the Cdc42-null epithelial cells. Overall our findings demonstrate that Cdc42 plays essential roles in mammary gland function post pregnancy, where it helps to establish proper epithelial cell polarity and tissue homeostasis during lactation.
Life on the margin: implications of ocean acidification on Mg-calcite, high latitude and cold-water marine calcifiers

Future anthropogenic emissions of CO2 and the resulting ocean acidification may have severe consequences for marine calcifying organisms and ecosystems. Marine calcifiers depositing calcitic hard parts that contain significant concentrations of magnesium, i.e. Mg-calcite, and calcify- ing organisms living in high latitude and/or cold-water environments are at immediate risk to ocean acidification and decreasing seawater carbonate saturation because they are currently immersed in seawater that is just slightly supersaturated with respect to the carbonate phases they secrete. Under the present rate of CO2 emissions, model calculations show that high latitude ocean waters could reach undersaturation with respect to aragonite in just a few decades. Thus, before this happens these waters will be undersaturated with respect to Mg-calcite minerals of higher solubility than that of aragonite. Similarly, tropical surface seawater could become undersaturated with respect to Mg- calcite minerals containing ≥12 mole percent (mol%) MgCO3 during this century. As a result of these changes in surface seawater chemistry and further penetration of anthropogenic CO2 into the ocean interior, we suggest that (1) the magnesium content of calcitic hard parts will decrease in many ocean environments, (2) the relative proportion of calcifiers depositing stable carbonate minerals, such as calcite and low Mg-calcite, will increase and (3) the average magnesium content of carbonate sedi- ments will decrease. Furthermore, the highest latitude and deepest depth at which cold-water corals and other calcifiers currently exist will move towards lower latitudes and shallower depth, respec- tively. These changes suggest that anthropogenic emissions of CO2 may be currently pushing the oceans towards an episode characteristic of a 'calcite sea. '
Control of lipid droplet size in budding yeast requires the collaboration between Fld1 and Ldb16

ABSTRACT The human congenital generalized lipodystrophy type 2 protein seipin (Fld1 in budding yeast) controls lipid droplet (LD) size through an unknown mechanism. Here, we report that deletion of yeast LDB16/YCL005W, similar to deletion of FLD1, causes supersized and small clustered LDs, altered phospholipid metabolism and impaired distribution of a subset of LD proteins. Ldb16 is a transmembrane protein in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that assembles together with Fld1 at ER–LD contact sites, a region that probably links neutral lipid synthesis with LD assembly. The formation of the Fld1–Ldb16 complex involves putative transmembrane segments of both proteins, thus, directly contributing to the maintenance of LD morphology. The stability of Ldb16 requires Fld1, as Ldb16 is subjected to ER-associated degradation (ERAD) in the absence of Fld1 but is stabilized when Fld1 is present. Strikingly, human seipin, but not yeast Fld1, complements the defects in LDs in ldb16&Dgr; yeast, implying that seipin can substitute for the function of the Fld1–Ldb16 complex. We propose that human seipin might adopt the architecture of the yeast Fld1–Ldb16 complex in order to properly maintain the size of LDs.
Cardiac Epithelioid Leiomyosarcoma and the Role of Cardiac Imaging in the Differentiation of Intracardiac Masses

Primary malignant cardiac neoplasms are extremely rare and can be difficult to differentiate from other intracardiac masses. We present a case of left atrial epithelioid leiomyosarcoma and review the imaging modalities available to diagnose and characterize intracardiac masses. We demonstrate how multimodal imaging aided diagnosis and proved crucial to establishing the tumor's location, degree of invasion, and involvement of surrounding structures prior to surgical resection. Copyright © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mutations in KIT occur at low frequency in melanomas arising from anatomical sites associated with chronic and intermittent sun exposure

In melanoma, mutations in KIT are most frequent in acral and mucosal subtypes and rarely reported in cutaneous melanomas particularly those associated with intermittent UV exposure. Conversely melanomas arising within chronic sun damaged skin are considered to harbour KIT mutations at higher rates. To characterize the frequency of KIT mutations in a representative melanoma population, 261 patients from two Australian melanoma centres were prospectively screened for mutations in exons 11, 13 and 17 of the KIT gene. A total of 257 patients had cutaneous melanoma arising from non‐acral sites and four were acral melanomas. No mucosal or ocular melanomas were analysed. KIT mutations were identified in five tumours (2% of the entire cohort) including two acral melanomas. Two of the three non‐acral melanomas with KIT mutations were associated with markers of chronic sun damage as assessed by the degree of skin elastosis. In the remaining cohort, 43% had chronically sun damaged skin. This report confirms that within an Australian population, KIT mutations are infrequent in cutaneous melanomas associated with both intermittent and chronic sun exposed skin.
Information technology to improve patient safety: A round table discussion from the 5th International Patient Safety Forum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 14–16, 2015

Information technology (IT) has wide‐ranging spectrum applications in patient safety in the acute care setting and, in particular, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) setting. Throughout this paper, we provide a summary of the discussion from the roundtable meeting from the 5th International Patient Safety Forum, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on April 14–16, 2015 that covered several aspects of how IT can improve patient safety, with a focus on the ICU setting. The format of the roundtable included presentations and general discussions. The potential risks associated with novel IT methods and technologies were also discussed. The meeting provided evidence by showcasing specific successful IT projects.
Antioxidant supplementation of boar spermatozoa from different fractions of the ejaculate improves cryopreservation: changes in sperm membrane lipid architecture

Previous studies have shown sperm quality after cryopreservation differs depending on the fraction of seminal plasma the boar spermatozoa are contained in. Thus, spermatozoa contained in the first 10 ml of the sperm-rich fraction (portion I) withstand handling procedures (extension, handling and freezing/thawing) better than those contained in the latter part of a fractionated ejaculate (second portion of the sperm-rich fraction and the post-spermatic fraction; portion II). The present study evaluated whether an exogenous antioxidant, the water-soluble vitamin E analogue Trolox (6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid), could, when added to the freezing extender in a split-sample design trial, improve the post-thaw viability and membrane quality of this particular portion of the ejaculate, with particular attention to the status of the plasma membrane. Using a split-sample design, the initial changes in the fluidity status of the sperm plasmalemma after thawing were measured by flow cytometry (FC) after loading with Merocyanine-540 and YO-PRO-1. The FC-derived data revealed a clear ejaculate portion-dependent effect of the antioxidant supplementation. While no beneficial effect of the antioxidant supplementation was visible in spermatozoa from portion I, more spermatozoa with intact membranes were observed in the supplemented samples of portion II, suggesting the protective effect of vitamin E is dependent of the portion of the boar ejaculate considered.
The Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signal-Integrating Kinase Mnk2 Is a Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 4E Kinase with High Levels of Basal Activity in Mammalian Cells

ABSTRACT The cap-binding translation initiation factor eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) is phosphorylated in vivo at Ser209 in response to a variety of stimuli. In this paper, we show that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal-integrating kinase Mnk2 phosphorylates eIF4E at this residue. Mnk2 binds to the scaffolding protein eIF4G, and overexpression of Mnk2 results in increased phosphorylation of endogenous eIF4E, showing that it can act as an eIF4E kinase in vivo. We have identified eight phosphorylation sites in Mnk2, of which at least three potential MAPK sites are likely to be essential for Mnk2 activity. In contrast to that of Mnk1, the activity of overexpressed Mnk2 is high under control conditions and could only be reduced substantially by a combination of PD98059 and SB203580, while the activity of endogenous Mnk2 in Swiss 3T3 cells was hardly affected upon treatment with these inhibitors. These compounds did not abolish phosphorylation of eIF4E, implying that Mnk2 may mediate phosphorylation of eIF4E in Swiss 3T3 cells. In vitro phosphorylation studies show that Mnk2 is a significantly better substrate than Mnk1 for extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2), p38MAPKα, and p38MAPKβ. Therefore, the high levels of activity of Mnk2 under several conditions may be explained by efficient activation of Mnk2 by low levels of activity of the upstream kinases. Interestingly, we found that the association of both Mnk1 and Mnk2 with eIF4G increased upon inhibition of the MAPK pathways while activation of ERK resulted in decreased binding to eIF4G. This might reflect a mechanism to ensure rapid, but transient, phosphorylation of eIF4E upon stimulation of the MAPK pathways.