Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Feldenkrais Movement Lessons Improve Older Adults’ Awareness, Comfort, and Function

This prospective controlled intervention study assessed Feldenkrais Moving Forward movement lessons for older adults. Participants (N = 87 returning from original sample of 124; median age = 76 years) were assigned to movement (n = 51) or waitlist control (n = 36) groups. The movement groups took twelve 60-min lessons across either 6 or 12 weeks, to compare lesson density. Pretests and posttests included Base of Support, Timed Up and Go, Tandem Stance, Functional Reach, modified OPTIMAL, and questions about individual priorities and outcomes. Results included significant correlations between lessons attended and both improved Functional Reach and improved OPTIMAL score. A significantly higher proportion of the movement (vs. control) group reported positive changes at the posttest in both prioritized and newly identified activities. These results show that Feldenkrais lessons are helpful to older adults for promoting balance, mobility, and confidence.
Migrating planets

A planet orbiting in a disk of planetesimals can experience an instability in which it migrates to smaller orbital radii. Resonant interactions between the planet and planetesimals remove angular momentum from the planetesimals, increasing their eccentricities. Subsequently, the planetesimals either collide with or are ejected by the planet, reducing the semimajor axis of the planet. If the surface density of the planetesimals exceeds a critical value, corresponding to approximately 0.03 solar mass of gas inside the orbit of Jupiter, the planet will migrate inward a large distance. This instability may explain the presence of Jupiter-mass objects in small orbits around nearby stars.
Insights into the Substrate Specificity, Inhibitors, Regulation, and Polymorphisms and the Clinical Impact of Human Cytochrome P450 1A2

Human CYP1A2 is one of the major CYPs in human liver and metabolizes a variety of clinically important drugs (e.g., clozapine, tacrine, tizanidine, and theophylline), a number of procarcinogens (e.g. benzo[a]pyrene and aflatoxin B1), and several important endogenous compounds (e.g. steroids and arachidonic acids). Like many of other CYPs, CYP1A2 is subject to induction and inhibition by a number of compounds, which may provide an explanation for some drug interactions observed in clinical practice. A large interindividual variability in the expression and activity of CYP1A2 and elimination of drugs that are mainly metabolized by CYP1A2 has been observed, which is largely caused by genetic (e.g., SNPs) and epigenetic (e.g., DNA methylation) and environmental factors (e.g., smoking and comedication). CYP1A2 is primarily regulated by the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and CYP1A2 is induced through AhR-mediated transactivation following ligand binding and nuclear translocation. To date, more than 15 variant alleles and a series of subvariants of the CYP1A2 gene have been identified and some of they have been associated with altered drug clearance and response to drug therapy. For example, lack of response to clozapine therapy due to low plasma drug levels has been reported in smokers harboring the −163A/A genotype; there is an association between CYP1A2*1F (−163C>A) allele and the risk for leflunomide-induced host toxicity. The *1F allele is associated with increased enzyme inducibility whereas *1C causes reduced inducibility. Further studies are warranted to explore the clinical and toxicological significance of altered CYP1A2 expression and activity caused by genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors.
Salmonella newport causing osteomyelitis in a patient with diabetes

Salmonella is a foodborne pathogen that commonly causes intestinal symptoms. Bacteraemia and extraintestinal infections have been documented within the literature, and are more frequently associated with immunodeficiency and general debilitation. We discuss the case of a previously well 36-year-old man who presented with a septic knee and new-onset diabetes. Imaging confirmed osteomyelitis and a Brodie's abscess, with blood and tissue cultures revealing the isolate Salmonella enterica newport. He denied any previous gastrointestinal symptoms, recent travel, change in usual dietary habit or symptoms of diabetes. So far there have only been three reported cases of S. newport causing osteomyelitis. We discuss the incidence of Salmonella infections, including extraintestinal symptoms, its relation to immunodeficiency and the disease burden of S. newport.
System-Based Quality Dimensions in Fitness Services: Development of the Scale of Quality

Abstract This research, based on the systems perspective, proposed nine dimensions of quality in fitness services. A scale was developed and its factor structure was confirmed in two studies of fitness club customers. As the factor structure of the nine-dimensional scale was confirmed through confirmatory factor analyses in both studies, it was concluded that the nine proposed dimensions were independent of each other. The final scale consisted of 35 items to measure Service Climate, Management Commitment to Service Quality, Programmes from the input stage; Interpersonal Interaction, Task Interaction, Physical Environments, Other Clients, Service Failures/Recovery from the throughput stage; and Perceived Service Quality form the output stage. The internal consistency estimates for the nine dimensions were found to be adequate. The utility of the proposed scheme, and its applicability to other contexts is discussed.
Taxable Capacity, Tax Efforts and Structural Break: Do the Child States Follow Their Respective Parents?

The present article makes an attempt to test the hypothesis whether smaller states have better fiscal efficiency in terms of own tax revenue collections or not. This has been tested by taking the case of three states Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar with their child states Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, respectively. For this purpose tax buoyancy, tax capacity and efforts, and structural break models—Chow test (with known break points) and Quandt likelihood ratio (QLR) test (with unknown break points), to see the impact of value added tax (VAT) on own tax revenue (OTR)—have been estimated. Log-log regression model was adopted for both calculating tax buoyancies and taxable capacity of each parent and child state. However, we did not find any conclusive evidence that child states have better tax buoyancy or tax efforts. On the basis of our observations, we concluded that the size of the state is not a major determinant affecting revenue efficiency of the state. Other supplementary policies like efficient tax administration, developed industrial sector, reduced exemptions and concessions, broad-based and effective tax rates are equally important. JEL Classification: H11, H21, H71, R50
Voltage stability considerations in composite power system reliability evaluation

This paper presents an approach which includes voltage stability considerations in the adequacy assessment of a composite power system. A fast technique for the probabilistic assessment of voltage stability is presented which can be used in conjunction with detailed contingency evaluation in a composite system adequacy assessment. Voltage stability is quantified using an indicator that can be easily included in the framework of an existing composite power system adequacy program. The effect on the adequacy indices (load point and system indices) of incorporating voltage stability constraints is illustrated by application to the IEEE-Reliability Test System.
Does foreign direct investment promote exports in China

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the causal link between foreign direct investment (FDI) and exports in China based on the knowledge capital model (KK model, Markusen, 2002). Design/methodology/approach - The bootstrap Granger full-sample and sub-sample rolling window causality test is used to determine whether FDI can promote exports. Findings - The full-sample causality test indicates no causal relationship from FDI to exports. However, considering structural changes of exports and FDI, the authors’ find that the full-sample test is not reliable. Instead, the authors use the rolling window causality test to revisit the dynamic causal relationship, and the results present significant effects from FDI on exports, mostly around periods in which the proportion of FDI from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan is increasing. Specifically, positive impacts of FDI on exports are stronger than the negative impacts in China. Research limitations/implications - The findings in this study suggest a significant time-varying nature of the correlation between FDI and exports. The promotion effect of FDI to exports is proved by the rolling window approach; it thus supports the KK model that divides FDI into lateral FDI and vertical FDI and proves that the constitution of FDI is critical to the relationship between FDI and exports. Practical implications - China has been facing adjustment of its economic structure in recent years, and in this situation, increasing the proportion of FDI that can bring advanced production function is critical for the industrial structural adjustment. Originality/value - This paper uses the bootstrap rolling window causality test to investigate the time-varying nature of the causality between FDI and exports, considering structural changes for the first time. The authors further deepen the previous research and draw a more realistic conclusion.
Analysis of electric vehicle stability effectiveness on wheel force with BLDC motor drive

The focus of this paper is to develop effective control strategies to improve driving dynamics and slope of the road based on the mechanical dynamic study. The proposed control strategy stabilizes the wheels forces through control of brushless DC motor drive (BLDC). For stabilizing the 3 wheeler and structural advantages that BLDC motors are connected directly to the tires. The proposed system is studied analytically and a laboratory prototype is built to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control system. Few typical simulation and experimental results are presented.
Effect of solar concentrators on the efficiency of solar panels

Due to the on-going vitality emergencies on the planet, the concentration of the globe is turning towards executing the inexhaustible as the fossils are on approach to consumption. The effectiveness of the Photovoltaic is the principle worry as the most noteworthy photovoltaic productivity financially accessible barely touches 30%. This paper significantly concentrates on the use of Solar Concentrators in zones under and over the standard temperature mentioned by the producer on the determination/specification sheet.
Miscellanea GeoGraphica – RegIONal StuDIeS ON DeVelOpmeNt

5 as early as Marshall (1920), economists have been attempting to identify the agglomeration forces that lead to the concentration of economic activity in a given place – the city. Contemporary economic theory explains this concentration by referring to localization and urbanization externalities. although the theory is able to explain why cities are created and why they grow, so far relatively little is known about how human populations are distributed within an urban system and why cities differ in size. In particular, an astonishing empirical regularity of population distribution can be found, which can be described by the so-called rank-size rule. this rule, and especially its particular form known as Zipf’s law, is a striking phenomenon that characterizes the pattern of city size distribution in different countries and regions of the world, as argued by certain authors. For example, according to Gabaix (1999, p. 129) Zipf’s law is “the most accurate regularity in economics” that “appears to hold in virtually all countries and dates for which there are data”. However, more recent empirical studies have called these results into question. many empirical studies on the applicability of Zipf’s law have already been carried out for specific countries, as well as crosssections of countries. However, empirical evidence on Zipf’s law for the new members of the european union still remains relatively scarce. In particular, only a few studies have been devoted to poland and they have yielded mixed results. poland is the largest and most populous country of the new eu member states and has an interesting history where path-dependence could play a vital role in shaping the location and distribution by size of its cities. therefore, the main goal of this paper is to extend the previous studies and to test whether Zipf’s law holds for the distribution of cities in poland, using the most recent and largest dataset, which in the extended version accounts for 908 observations. the baseline hypothesis of our empirical analysis postulates that Zipf’s law is a good description of the polish city rank distribution. We validate this hypothesis using the extensive dataset on the population of polish cities based on the last population census from 2011 (derived from the polish Central Statistical Office (CSO)) using the simple ordinary least squares (OlS) method, as well as the more recent approach proposed by Gabaix and Ibragimov (2011), which allows correcting for small sample bias. Our empirical results show that, irrespective of the employed empirical approach, Zipf’s law is generally rejected for poland, as city sizes are less evenly distributed than it predicts. the remainder of the paper is organized as follows. First, we provide a literature review on the previous empirical tests of Zipf’s law. Next, we describe our dataset, the research methodology and the main hypotheses of the empirical investigation for polish cities. Subsequently, we report our estimation results. Finally, we summarize and provide directions for future research.
In vitro intrinsic optical imaging can be used for source determination in cortical slices

In the last decades intrinsic optical imaging has become a widely used technique for monitoring activity in vivo and in vitro. It is assumed that in brain slices the source of intrinsic optical signals (IOSs) is the change in light scattering caused by cell swelling or shrinkage. The aim of the present study was to find a correlation between electrical activity and parallel optical characteristics, elicited by 4‐aminopyridine‐containing or Mg2+‐free medium in rat cortical brain slices. Electrophysiological signals and reflected light alterations were recorded during spontaneous seizure activity. Current source density (CSD) analysis was performed on the electrophysiological records. Direct correlation analysis of IOS to CSD was made, and source distribution provided by IOS and CSD methods was compared by determining Matthews correlation coefficient. The gradual development of seizure‐like activity elicited the reduction of light reflectance. The main findings of our experiments are that long‐term epileptiform activity resulted in persistent alteration in IOSs of brain slices. The observed IOS pattern remained stable after 1 h incubation in convulsants. The pattern of IOS shows good correlation with the data obtained from the CSD analysis. Persistent IOS changes provide information about the area‐specific changes of basic excitability, which can serve as a background for ictal and interictal‐like epileptiform activity. We can conclude that changes in IOSs correlate well with electrophysiological recordings under different conditions. Our experiments provide evidence that underlying synchronised neuronal processes produce parallel alterations in IOSs and electrophysiological activity.
The clinical management of lower respiratory tract infections

ABSTRACT The 2010 Global Burden of Disease Study reported that lower respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia, are the fourth most common cause of death globally. The etiology of acute bronchitis and asthma exacerbations is mostly viral and the therapy is symptomatic. Management decisions in community acquired pneumonia regarding site of care, extent of assessment, and level of treatment are based primarily on disease severity (outpatient, inpatient, ICU admission). Antibiotics are the main choice of treatment for patients with pneumonia, acute exacerbations (AE) of COPD (including increased sputum purulence and worsening shortness of breath) and AE of non-CF bronchiectasis. Inhaled antibiotics may represent a more optimal approach for the treatment and prevention of AE of non-CF bronchiectasis. Approved strategies for the prevention of exacerbations include smoking cessation and rehabilitation programs, drug therapy and vaccination.
CYBER SECURITY EDUCATION IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION; CASE STUDY ON GAMIFICATION METHODS USED IN EUROPE

Now that topics like cyber security appear on the public agenda, there is a need to up-scale skills quicker and quicker by enhancing training, including by gamification solutions. The purpose of this research is to analyse the status of cyber security gamification solutions and identify best practices for their potential re-use. This qualitative case study explores gamification solutions and their uses in Europe. The data gathering phase revealed from practitioners what the last years' literature is pointing to: great potential, but not yet a high adoption rate. Also, it was interesting to see the links of this topic and the Digital Agenda in terms of Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) in cyber security, but it proved not to be so much developed in the end. Also, for myself as a practitioner and doctoral candidate, the implications of this research can help better understand where we head on from here. In conclusion, my research on cyber security education in line with other scholars (Hassan, 2016; Asquer, 2014; Bista et al., 2014; Coronado Escobar & Vasquez Urriago, 2014; Gordon et al., 2014; Nelson, 2012; Raphael et al., 2010) shows that learning in public administration should employ better, innovative open gamified solutions. There is a need for more research data to advance this work. Through this investigation I join the call for further analysis and search for practical implementation. The implications of this research can help better understand the status quo with qualitative data and advance new indicators currently missing in terms of public policy making.
Infant adiposity at birth and early postnatal weight gain predict increased aortic intima-media thickness at 6 weeks of age: a population-derived cohort study.

Infant body composition and postnatal weight gain have been implicated in the development of adult obesity and cardiovascular disease, but there are limited prospective data regarding the association between infant adiposity, postnatal growth and early cardiovascular parameters. Increased aortic intima-media thickness (aortic IMT) is an intermediate phenotype of early atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between weight and adiposity at birth, postnatal growth and aortic IMT. The Barwon Infant Study (n=1074 mother-infant pairs) is a population-derived birth cohort. Infant weight and other anthropometry were measured at birth and 6 weeks of age. Aortic IMT was measured by trans-abdominal ultrasound at 6 weeks of age (n=835). After adjustment for aortic size and other factors, markers of adiposity including increased birth weight (β=19.9 μm/kg, 95%CI 11.1, 28.6; P<0.001) and birth skinfold thickness (β=6.9 μm/mm, 95%CI 3.3, 10.5; P<0.001) were associated with aortic IMT at 6 weeks. The association between birth skinfold thickness and aortic IMT was independent of birth weight. In addition, greater postnatal weight gain was associated with increased aortic IMT, independent of birth weight and age at time of scan (β=11.3 μm/kg increase, 95%CI 2.2, 20.3; P=0.01). Increased infant weight and adiposity at birth, as well as increased early weight gain, were positively associated with aortic IMT. Excessive accumulation of adiposity during gestation and early infancy may have adverse effects on cardiovascular risk.
Resistance Training Improves Glycaemic Control in Obese Type 2 Diabetic Men

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether moderate intensity resistance training (RT) improves glycaemic control in obese, type 2 diabetic men. Eighteen subjects were randomly assigned to a 10-week RT program, or a non-training control group (C). Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA 1c ), fasting glucose and insulin, glucose and insulin 120 minutes (2h) after a 75 g oral glucose load, body composition and muscular strength and endurance were measured before and after the 10-week experimental period. In the RT group fasting glucose and insulin decreased with training (p < 0.05) and decreases in HbA 1c approached significance (p = 0.057). 2-h glucose and insulin did not change in either group. Fat free mass (FFM) increased by 3.5 % after RT but was unchanged in the controls. Fat mass (FM) increased 6.9 % in C but was unchanged in RT. Percent body fat was unchanged in both groups. Muscular strength and endurance increased by 25 to 52 % in the RT group but was unchanged in controls. Changes in fasting glucose and HbA 1c were inversely related to changes in FFM. These results suggest that RT is an effective form of exercise training which modestly improves glycaemic control and lowers fasting insulin levels in obese type 2 diabetics.
Scanning thermal imaging by near-field fluorescence spectroscopy

A scanning thermal microscope that uses a fluorescent particle as a temperature probe has been developed. The particle, made of a rare-earth ion-doped fluoride glass, is glued at the extremity of a sharp tungsten tip and scanned on the surface of an electronic device. The temperature of the device is determined by measuring the fluorescence spectrum of the particle at every point on the surface and by comparing the intensity variations of two emission lines. As an example, we will show some images obtained on a nickel stripe 1 µm wide, heated by an electrical current. A good agreement is observed with a simulation of the temperature field on the device.
The Case for Young People and Nature: A Path to a Healthy, Natural, Prosperous Future

We describe scenarios that define how rapidly fossil fuel emissions must be phased down to restore Earth's energy balance and stabilize global climate. A scenario that stabilizes climate and preserves nature is technically possible and it is essential for the future of humanity. Despite overwhelming evidence, governments and the fossil fuel industry continue to propose that all fossil fuels must be exploited before the world turns predominantly to clean energies. If governments fail to adopt policies that cause rapid phase-down of fossil fuel emissions, today's children, future generations, and nature will bear the consequences through no fault of their own. Governments must act immediately to significantly reduce fossil fuel emissions to protect our children's future and avoid loss of crucial ecosystem services, or else be complicit in this loss and its consequences.