Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Acute Caffeine Intake on Fat Oxidation Rate during Fed-State Exercise: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Pre-exercise intake of caffeine (from ~3 to 9 mg/kg) has been demonstrated as an effective supplementation strategy to increase fat oxidation during fasted exercise. However, a pre-exercise meal can alter the potential effect of caffeine on fat oxidation during exercise as caffeine modifies postprandial glycaemic and insulinemic responses. Hypothetically, the effect of caffeine on fat oxidation may be reduced or even withdrawn during fed-state exercise. The present systematic review aimed to meta-analyse investigations on the effect of acute caffeine intake on the rate of fat oxidation during submaximal aerobic exercise performed in the fed state (last meal < 5 h before exercise). A total of 18 crossover trials with randomised and placebo-controlled protocols and published between 1982 and 2021 were included, with a total of 228 participants (185 males and 43 females). Data were extracted to compare rates of fat oxidation during exercise with placebo and caffeine at the same exercise intensity, which reported 20 placebo–caffeine pairwise comparisons. A meta-analysis of the studies was performed, using the standardised mean difference (SMD) estimated from Hedges’ g, with 95% confidence intervals (CI). In comparison with the placebo, caffeine increased the rate of fat oxidation during fed-state exercise (number of comparisons (n) = 20; p = 0.020, SMD = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.20 to 1.20). Only studies with a dose < 6 mg/kg of caffeine (n = 13) increased the rate of fat oxidation during fed-state exercise (p = 0.004, SMD = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.27 to 1.45), while no such effect was observed in studies with doses ≥6 mg/kg (n = 7; p = 0.97, SMD = −0.03, 95% CI = −1.40 to 1.35). The effect of caffeine on fat oxidation during fed-state exercise was observed in active untrained individuals (n = 13; p < 0.001, SMD = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.39 to 1.30) but not in aerobically trained participants (n = 7; p = 0.27, SMD = 0.50, 95% CI = −0.39 to 1.39). Likewise, the effect of caffeine on fat oxidation was observed in caffeine-naïve participants (n = 9; p < 0.001, SMD = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.45 to 1.19) but not in caffeine consumers (n = 3; p = 0.54, SMD = 0.57, 95% CI = −1.23 to 2.37). In conclusion, acute caffeine intake in combination with a meal ingested within 5 h before the onset of exercise increased the rate of fat oxidation during submaximal aerobic exercise. The magnitude of the effect of caffeine on fat oxidation during fed-state exercise may be modulated by the dose of caffeine administered (higher with <6 mg/kg than with ≥6 mg/kg), participants’ aerobic fitness level (higher in active than in aerobically trained individuals), and habituation to caffeine (higher in caffeine-naïve than in caffeine consumers).
Exploring Material Representations for Sparse Voxel DAGs

Ray tracing is a popular technique used in movies and video games to create com-pelling visuals. Ray traced computer images are increasingly becoming more realistic and almost indistinguishable from real-word images. Due to the complexity of scenes and the desire for high resolution images, ray tracing can become very expensive in terms of computation and memory. To address these concerns, researchers have examined data structures to eﬃciently store geometric and material information. Sparse voxel octrees (SVOs) and directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) have proven to be successful geometric data structures for reducing memory requirements. Moxel DAGs connect material properties to these geometric data structures, but experience limitations related to memory, build times, and render times. This thesis examines the eﬃcacy of connecting an alternative material data structure to existing geometric representations. The contributions of this thesis include the creation of a new material representation using hashing to accompany DAGs, a method to calculate surface normals using neighboring voxel data, and a demonstration and validation that DAGs can be used to super sample based on proximity. This thesis also validates the visual acuity from these methods via a user survey comparing diﬀerent output images. In comparison to the Moxel DAG implementation, this work increases render time, but reduces build times and memory, and improves the visual quality of output images.
Molecular Mechanisms of Reelin in the Enteric Nervous System and the Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis: Implications for Depression and Antidepressant Therapy

Current pharmacological treatments for depression fail to produce adequate remission in a significant proportion of patients. Increasingly, other systems, such as the microbiome–gut–brain axis, are being looked at as putative novel avenues for depression treatment. Dysbiosis and dysregulation along this axis are highly comorbid with the severity of depression symptoms. The endogenous extracellular matrix protein reelin is present in all intestinal layers as well as in myenteric and submucosal ganglia, and its receptors are also present in the gut. Reelin secretion from subepithelial myofibroblasts regulates cellular migration along the crypt–villus axis in the small intestine and colon. Reelin brain expression is downregulated in mood and psychotic disorders, and reelin injections have fast antidepressant-like effects in animal models of depression. This review seeks to discuss the roles of reelin in the gastrointestinal system and propose a putative role for reelin actions in the microbiota–gut–brain axis in the pathogenesis and treatment of depression, primarily reflecting on alterations in gut epithelial cell renewal and in the clustering of serotonin transporters.
Misfit strain-misfit strain phase diagram of (110)-oriented ferroelectric PbTiO3 films: a phase-field study

Ferroelectric thin films with high index orientations are found to possess unique structures and properties. In this work, we constructed the misfit strain-misfit strain phase diagram of (110)-oriented PbTiO3 (PTO) thin films by phase-field simulations. The evolutions of ferroelectric phase structures, domain morphologies, volume fractions, and polarization components with the anisotropic strains were analyzed in detail. Large anisotropic strains exist between the orthorhombic scandate substrates and (110)-oriented PTO films, which makes it possible to engineer the structures and properties by anisotropic strain. These results deepen the understanding of ferroelectric domain structures of (110)-oriented PTO films under the anisotropic strain and provide theoretical support for the anisotropic strain engineering of high-index thin films experimentally.
Recognition of Muscular Activity in Complex Noise-Contaminated Myoelectric Signals: An Adaptive Two-Step Approach

Surface electromyography (sEMG) signals demonstrate how the muscles react to the control strategies of the nervous system. For stroke patients, the detection of muscle activation is crucial because it allows researchers to better understand their brain control mechanisms. However, extracting the muscular activity precisely from the sEMG signals with various complex noises is a challenge in biomedical data processing. This study presented an adaptive two-step (AdaTS) muscular activity recognition algorithm to handle this problem. The sEMG signal was first pre-extracted using the adaptive threshold approach and annexation method to identify the interval comprising active information. Then, after amplifying the difference of activity and inactivity of the interval signal through the Teager–Kaiser energy operator, the onsets and offsets were determined based on the overall change of the interval signal. The proposed algorithm was tested in semi-synthetic signals, real signals from a public database, and experimentally recorded signals. Compared with other approaches, our method can effectively handle various types of interference and produce the best detection performance. Additionally, the steps of parameter selection and adjustment are removed, which greatly simplifies the practical application.
A Mixer-First Receiver With On-Demand Passive Harmonic Rejection

This letter presents a mixer-first RF receiver that: 1) nominally operates in a low-NF $N$ -path filter mode; 2) features an on-chip harmonic blocker detection circuit running in the background; 3) switches to a harmonic rejection mode upon detection of harmonic content; and 4) passively rejects harmonic blockers through a current-mode circuit that uses resistor sizing to set the amplitude of each path, but with capacitive termination to minimize conversion loss to 1.9 dB while providing a sharp, down-converted filter response. Implemented in 65nm CMOS, the receiver achieves 36/40-dB HR3/5,+21 dBm IIP3, +1 dBm blocker 1-dB compression point (B1dB) and 4/8-dB NF while consuming 10–23 mW.
Aspectos sobre los Hábitos Alimenticios del Pargo del Golfo Lutjanus campechanus (P 1860) del Banco de Campeche, Yucatán, México

RESUMEN El régimen alimenticio de L. campechanus del sur del Golfo de México fue caracterizado a partir del análisis de los contenidos estomacales de 764 especimenes (longitud total: LT = 24.2 85.9 cm) capturados por la flota pesquera comercial mexicana, entre marzo de 1999 y abril del 2000. Las principales categorías alimenticias identificadas en los contenidos estomacales de este pargo fueron los peces y los decápodos Reptantia (presas preferenciales o secundarias) y los estomatópodos, crustáceos indeterminados y decápodos Natantia (presas accidentales). No se observó diferencia significativa en la composición del régimen alimenticio del pargo del Golfo en relación con las estaciones del año. Los peces constituyeron en peso, las presas más importantes en la dieta de los individuos de mayor tamaño (clases de talla: 44.1 64.0 cm LT y 64.186.0 cm LT) mientras que los decápodos Reptantia predominaron en la alimentación de especimenes de menor tamaño (24.1 44.0 cm LT). Los resultados del presente estudio son comparados con los obtenidos por otros autores sobre esta misma especie en diferentes regiones del Golfo de México.
Integración europea y teoría crítica de las relaciones internacionales: nuevas perspectivas para investigar los problemas contemporáneos de Europa

Este trabajo se propone, a través de la teoría crítica de las relaciones internacionales, poner en tela de juicio las teorías funcionalistas y neofuncionalistas sobre la integración europea. La comprensión de la Unión Europea como problema en sí mismo y como un producto derivado del capitalismo tardío nos permite acercarnos a nuevas perspectivas metodológicas transdisciplinares para desarrollar el principal problema contemporáneo al que se enfrenta: las resistencias a Europa. Asimismo, se propone la valoración de las políticas europeas en clave transnacional y el estudio de las identidades y las percepciones como dos marcos metodológicos a través de los cuales aportar nuevas y renovadas conclusiones a los European Studies.
How To Design Excise Taxes on Alcoholic Beverages

This How to Note examines the complex interplay between excise taxes on alcohol and alcoholic beverages, their revenue yield, and the public health concerns related to alcohol consumption. The note suggests guidance on how countries can approach the design of excise taxes on alcohol based on theoretical principles as well as empirical evidence drawn from international experience. Key questions addressed include: How important is alcohol consumption, and what form does it take across countries of different income levels? What has been the trend in alcohol excise tax revenue? How can countries design simple excise regimes that yield revenue while having the potential to contribute to reducing the externalities and internalities caused by alcohol consumption?
A feasibility study of computer vision-based deformation monitoring for RC columns

This paper focuses on the feasibility study of vision-based deformation monitoring. Sparse optical flow, a computer vision technique, is often used for deformation tracking and extraction. The objective of this study is to explore the application of optical flow in concrete column deformation monitoring. The performance of the technique is compared with the traditional LVDT (Linear Variable Differential Transformer) measurement method. The experimental results show that the optical flow method can effectively extract the deformation information of concrete columns with a smaller error compared with the LVDT method, whose relative standard deviation is 1.03 mm and relative error is 1.88%, confirming the feasibility and effectiveness of the vision-based approach. This study provides a visual solution for deformation monitoring of concrete columns, and provides reference and guidance for deformation analysis and structural monitoring in related fields.
A Preliminary Study on Evaluation of Time-Dependent Radionuclide Removal Performance Using Artificial Intelligence for Biological Adsorbents

Background: Recently, biological adsorbents have been developed for removing radionuclides from radioactive liquid waste due to their high selectivity, eco-friendliness, and renewability. However, since they can be damaged by radiation in radioactive waste, a method for estimating the bio-adsorbent performance as a time should consider the radiation damages in terms of their renewability. This paper aims to develop a simulation method that applies a deep learning technique to rapidly and accurately estimate the adsorption performance of bio-adsorbents when inserted into liquid radioactive waste.Materials and Methods: A model that describes various interactions between a bio-adsorbent and liquid has been constructed using numerical methods to estimate the adsorption capacity of the bio-adsorbent. To generate datasets for machine learning, Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) simulations were conducted while considering radioactive concentrations in the adsorbent column.Results and Discussion: Compared with the result of the conventional method, the proposed method indicates that the accuracy is in good agreement, within 0.99% and 0.06% for the R2 score and mean absolute percentage error, respectively. Furthermore, the estimation speed is improved by over 30 times.Conclusion: Note that an artificial neural network can rapidly and accurately estimate the survival rate of a bio-adsorbent from radiation ionization compared with the MCNP simulation and can determine if the bio-adsorbents are reusable.
An Unusual Instigator of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis: Salmonella typhimurium

Salmonella is an unusual cause of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). It is commonly seen in asymptomatic patients with normal or high ascitic fluid protein levels and an immunocompromised state such as AIDS and hematological and solid organ malignancies other than liver. SBP from non-typhoidal Salmonella species should be considered, even in the absence of underlying immunosuppression. Our patient presented with a history of high-grade fever and frequent loose stools with decompensated alcoholic liver cirrhosis. While evaluating the SBP etiology, ascitic fluid turned out positive for the non-typhoidal Salmonella species, which was red, turbid, and hemorrhagic due to portal vein and superior mesenteric vein thrombosis. We thus report an extremely rare case of SBP caused by Salmonella typhimurium in our patient.
Tomato Health Monitoring System: Tomato Classification, Detection, and Counting System Based on YOLOv8 Model With Explainable MobileNet Models Using Grad-CAM++

Fruits and vegetables (especially, tomatoes) healthy detection are important tasks for smart agriculture. Several works have been published in tomato detection, however, there is little research on using explainable AI to detect, classify and count tomato fruit status. In this work, we propose a Tomatoes Health Check System by evaluating MobileNet models based on the physiological tomato dataset. Our research conducts experiments to evaluate the accuracy of the MobileNets, MobileNetV2 and MobileNetV3 models based on the evaluation metrics; the highest accuracy of 96.69% belongs to the MobileNetV3 model. The proposed method we suggest is to utilize Grad-CAM++ for a visual explanation of predictions made by models belonging to the MobileNets family. Subsequently, we calculate Intersection over Union metrics at various thresholds (0%, 25%, and 50%) based on each heatmap or region of importance. To assess model reliability, Grad-CAM++ is used to explain and evaluate reliability, with MobileNetV2 achieving the highest values at 100.00% (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\delta $ </tex-math></inline-formula>=0), 100.00% (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\delta $ </tex-math></inline-formula>=0.25), and 98.89% (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\delta $ </tex-math></inline-formula>=0.5). An evaluation experiment combines the YOLOv8 and MobileNetV2 algorithms using the Simple Online and Real-time Tracking (SORT) algorithm to detect, classify, and count tomatoes based on physiological characteristics in videos. Finally, the research results are utilized to develop an application system.
Assessing Biomechanical and Clinical Outcomes of an Elbow Orthosis Intervention in Youth Baseball: Preliminary Results

Proper orthosis design may help youth baseball players develop safer pitching mechanics to prevent elbow injuries. This study evaluated the impact of a custom elbow orthosis on pitching biomechanics and adverse events. Ten 11–12-year-old players (mean age 11.5 years) from a regional league team were recruited. The inclusion criteria were at least two years of baseball experience. Six players were randomly assigned to the orthosis group, with four in the control group. Anthropometric data and baseline characteristics were recorded. A video analysis assessed elbow flexion angle during pitching at baseline and at 2 months. The frequency of orthosis wear was also tracked. Adverse events during twice-weekly practices were documented. Post-study surveys evaluated orthosis comfort, stability, and safety perceptions. In the orthosis group (n = 6), four participants showed improved elbow flexion angle, and two of the six participants showed almost no change. The overall median difference was 23.5°. In the control group (n = 4), three participants showed improvement, with a median improvement of 5.5°. Twelve adverse events, including pain, were reported by players not wearing orthoses, whereas no events occurred with orthosis use. Individual players in the control group or who did not wear the orthosis correctly experienced multiple episodes of pain from pitching over the study period. This preliminary study indicates a custom elbow orthosis can optimize pitching biomechanics and prevent adverse events in youth baseball players over the course of two months.
Movement, resource selection, and the physiological stress response of white-bearded wildebeest

Movement, Resource Selection, and the Physiological Stress Response of White-bearded Wildebeest White-bearded wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) are the dominant herbivores found across grassland savannas of East Africa. Known to be particularly important to ecosystem diversity and function, many resident populations of wildebeest have become threatened with extinction over the past few decades. Surprisingly little is known about the movements of individual wildebeest. Using data from GPS collared wildebeest across three study areas in southwest Kenya, this dissertation increases our understanding of the response of wildebeest to differing levels of landscape disturbance. Specifically, I focus on five objectives: (1) describe the movements of wildebeest across three study areas in southwest Kenya with varying degrees of anthropogenic and natural disturbance; (2) compare the movements of resident wildebeest with the movements of Serengeti migrants; (3) assess the physiological stress response in wildebeest populations as it relates to landscape disturbance; (4) evaluate the space use of GPS collared wildebeest between study area and season; and (5) incorporate GPS movement data and an analysis of space use into an agent-based modeling simulation to evaluate the use of a hypothetical wildlife corridor to re-connect former habitat ranges of the species. In Chapter 2, I analyze the movements of thirty-six wildebeest, fitted with Lotek WildCell R © GPS collars across three study areas in 2010, and compare these movements with broad-scale dynamics of vegetation productivity. I found that the movements of collared wildebeest were greatest across the Amboseli Basin, the driest and least anthropogenically
Shackled by double disadvantage? Gender, segregation and immigrants’ occupational attainments

The aim of the article was to determine whether immigrant women's occupational status reflect a double disadvantage in comparison to immigrant men and inborn women and how patterns are formed by occupational segregation. The study utilised register data for descriptive comparisons of the immigrant and inborn populations in Sweden ( n ≈ 4,900,000). Regression analyses were performed on nationally representative surveys of the immigrant ( n ≈ 2600) and total ( n ≈ 3200) labour force. The results do not support the notion of a double disadvantage. In the immigrant population, only women with primary/secondary education have jobs with lower average prestige than men, reflecting the fact that women are clustered in female-dominated occupations. Among immigrants with higher education, the gender gap is reversed, and men's disadvantage is explained by ethnic segregation. Compared to Swedish-born individuals, prestige gaps are substantially larger for men. After accounting for segregation, the gap is closed among women but not among men.
DISINFECTANTS INFLUENCE ON SOWING QUALITIES OF GRAIN CROP SEEDS

Представлены результаты исследований, проведенных в 2015 г. , по определению действия различных протравителей на посевные качества семян таких зерновых культур, как озимая пшеница, озимая рожь и яровой ячмень районированных в ЦЧР сортов. В лабораторных условиях изучалось действие препаратов Сертикор, Селест топ, Максим, Максим экстрим, Дивиденд стар и Дивиденд экстрим в рекомендуемой дозе (1-й вариант) и в двойной дозе (2-й вариант), за контроль взят вариант с дистиллированной водой. Особое внимание было уделено действию протравителей на некондиционную партию семян многорядного ячменя сорта Вакула (с пониженной энергией прорастания и лабораторной всхожестью). Выявлено значительное снижение (максимум на 29%) лабораторных показателей качества семян озимой пшеницы при использовании двойной дозы препаратов. Влияние протравителей на качество семян озимой ржи было ниже по сравнению с озимой пшеницей (препарат Селест топ не оказывал негативного воздействия). Все препараты оказали отрицательное действие на энергию прорастания и лабораторную всхожесть семян ячменя сорта Вакула. Самое «мягкое» действие оказали препараты Дивиденд стар и Дивиденд экстрим в рекомендуемой дозе – лабораторная всхожесть составила соответственно 43 и 26% (контроль – 59%). При использовании препарата Максим в двойной дозе отмечена полная гибель семян ячменя. Выявлено, что при выборе препаратов необходимо до протравливания проводить комплексную оценку (анализ) каждой партии семян по таким показателям, как чистота, крупность, выравненность, травмированность, зараженность патогенами и др. , чтобы иметь возможность установить причину снижения энергии прорастания и лабораторной всхожести после действия протравителя и принять меры по снижению или устранению отрицательного влияния препарата. Для повышения эффективности применения протравителей для разных культур и сортов следует учитывать их особенности, оценив предварительно влияние препаратов и доз на партию семян. КЛЮЧЕВЫЕ СЛОВА: озимая пшеница, озимая рожь, яровой ячмень, семена, протравители, посевные качества, лабораторная всхожесть, энергия прорастания.