Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Self-Reported Training and Supplementation Practices Between Performance-Enhancing Drug-User Bodybuilders Compared with Natural Bodybuilders

Abstract Li, J, Davies, TB, and Hackett, DA. Self-reported training and supplementation practices between performance-enhancing drug-user bodybuilders compared with natural bodybuilders. J Strength Cond Res 37(5): 1079–1088, 2023—This study aimed to examine whether the training and supplementation practices differ between performance-enhancing drug (PED)-using bodybuilders (BB) and natural BB. One hundred eighty-seven competitive male bodybuilders with a median age of 27.0 years completed an online survey. Of this sample, 40 respondents reported using PED (PED-user) and 147 respondents reported to be natural. Compared with natural BB, PED-user BB reported greater off-season body weight (p < 0.001) and weight loss before a competition (p < 0.001). In the off-season, PED-user BB performed a greater number of exercises per muscle group (p < 0.001), number of repetition maximum (RM) per set (p < 0.01), and less recovery between the sets (p < 0.01). During the precompetition phase, the natural BB increased their number of RM; however, the PED-user BB still reported using a greater number of RM per set (p = 0.02), exercises per muscle group (p < 0.001), and less recovery time between the sets (p < 0.01). Both the PED-user BB and natural BB reported greater aerobic exercise frequency (p < 0.001) and session duration (p < 0.001), although PED-user BB performed a greater number of aerobic exercise sessions (p = 0.04) and at a higher intensity (p < 0.01). Advanced training techniques, including negatives, partial repetitions, preexhaustion sets, and timed repetitions, were more popular among PED-user BB (p < 0.05). Creatine monohydrate usage was more popular among natural BB (p < 0.001), whereas branched-chain and essential amino acids were more popular among PED-user BB (p ≤ 0.001). Findings suggest that PED-user BB perform more metabolically demanding resistance training sessions, more strenuous aerobic training during the precompetition phase, and may have different supplementation preferences compared with natural BB.
Xenografts on nude mouse diaphragm of human DU145 prostate carcinoma cells: mesothelium removal by outgrowths and angiogenesis

ABSTRACT Human prostate carcinoma DU145 cells, androgen-independent malignant cells, implanted in the athymic nu/nu male mouse, developed numerous tumors on peritoneal and retro-peritoneal organs whose growth aspects and vascular supply have yet to be investigated with fine structure techniques. A series of necropsies from moribund implanted mice diaphragms were examined with light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. DU145 xenografts installations, far away from the implanted site, were described as the smallest installation to large diaphragm outgrowths in moribund mice. Carcinomas did not show extracellular matrix and, reaching more than 0.15 mm in thickness, they revealed new structures in these outgrowths. Voids to be gland-like structures with mediocre secretion and, unexpectedly, intercellular spaces connected with fascicles of elongated DU145 cells that merged with a vascular supply originated from either the tumor cells and/or some perimysium vessels. In the largest carcinomas, most important vascular invasions coincidently accompanied the mouse lethality, similarly to human cancers. This androgen-independent model would be useful to study tumor outgrowth’s changes related to testing anticancer strategy, including anti-angiogenic therapies involving toxicity, simultaneously with those of other vital organs with combined biomolecular and fine structure techniques.
Generation of 18F-FDG PET standard scan images from short scans using cycle-consistent generative adversarial network

Objective. To improve positron emission tomography (PET) image quality, we aim to generate images of quality comparable to standard scan duration images using short scan duration (1/8 and 1/16 standard scan duration) inputs and assess the generated standard scan duration images quantitative and qualitatively. Also, the effect of training dataset properties (i.e. body mass index (BMI)) on the performance of the model(s) will be explored. Approach. Whole-body PET scans of 42 patients (41 18F-FDG and one 68Ga-PSMA) scanned with standard radiotracer dosage were included in this study. One 18F-FDG patient data was set aside and the remaining 40 patients were split into four subsets of 10 patients with different mean patient BMI. Multiple copies of a developed cycle-GAN network were trained on each subset to predict standard scan images using 1/8 and 1/16 short duration scans. Also, the models’ performance was tested on a patient scanned with the 68Ga-PSMA radiotracer. Quantitative performance was tested using peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), structural similarity index (SSIM), and normalized root mean squared error (NRMSE) metrics, and two nuclear medicine specialists analyzed images qualitatively. Main results. The developed cycle-GAN model improved the PSNR, SSIM, and NRMSE of the 1/8 and 1/16 short scan duration inputs both 18F-FDG and 68Ga-PSMA radiotracers. Although, quantitatively PSNR, SSIM, and NRMSE of the 1/16 scan duration level were improved more than 1/8 counterparts, however, the later were qualitatively more appealing. SUVmean and SUVmax of the generated images were also indicative of the improvements. The cycle-GAN model was much more capable in terms of image quality improvements and speed than the NLM denoising method. All results proved statistically significant using the paired-sample T-Test statistical test (p-value < 0.05). Significance. Our suggested approach based on cycle-GAN could improve image quality of the 1/8 and 1/16 short scan-duration inputs through noise reduction both quantitively (PSNR, SSIM, NRMSE, SUVmean, and SUVmax) and qualitatively (contrast, noise, and diagnostic capability) to the level comparable to the standard scan-duration counterparts. The cycle-GAN model(s) had a similar performance on the 68Ga-PSMA to the 18F-FDG images and could improve the images qualitatively and quantitatively but requires more extensive study. Overall, images predicted from 1/8 short scan-duration inputs had the upper hand compared with 1/16 short scan-duration inputs.
Sinus node dysfunction after radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial flutter: A case report

Atrial flutter (AFL) is the second most common atrial tachyarrhythmia after atrial fibrillation. Catheter ablation (CA) for typical AFL is well‐established and has a high success rate and adequate safety. However, sick sinus syndrome (SSS) occasionally occurs when long‐term, persistent AFL is terminated by ablation. Sinus node function cannot be assessed during AFL, and the preoperative prediction of underlying SSS has not yet been investigated. When this situation occurs, pacemaker implantation is often necessary. Here, we report a case of SSS after persistent AFL CA.
Euclidean and Riemannian Geometrical Approaches to Non-Extensive Thermo-Statistical Mechanics

I introduce a new geometrical approach to thermo--statistical mechanics. Here I highlight the main physical ideas, and how do they translate into geometrical language. I contrast the present approach with previous thermo--statistical--geometrical formalisms, (pseudo-)Riemannian [Weinhold 1975; Ruppeiner 1979] as well as Euclidean [Gilmore 1984; Gross& Votyakov 1999] or Euclidean--looking [Levine 1986]. I point out the relevance of this approach within the contexts of non--extensive statistical thermodynamics [Tsallis 1988, 2000]. I show how the language of Riemannian geometry can be used as a powerful investigation tool,leading to several new and profound questions, and some temptative answers, on thermo--statistical mechanics.
The Human Preference for Excess Salt

Salt, sodium chloride, clearly holds a special place in human history. It has, when available, been used exten sively in human cuisine, formed a fundamental unit of exchange, and even been a cause of war. Salt has commonly been taxed because of its universal usage and value. Most striking perhaps are the British salt taxes in colonial India: individuals were taxed up to 4,000% of the salt's value, and a family of four could have spent as much as 17% of its income on salt. To prevent salt from being smuggled between areas of low tax and those of high tax, a series of fortifications rivaling the Great Wall of China was constructed over a distance of 1,500 miles across the Indian subcontinent and was manned by 8,000 soldiers (Balfour 1899; Gandhi 1930). Sodium is required for a variety of biological func tions, including nerve conduction, blood-pressure main tenance, acid-base balance, and mus cle contraction, and its balance in the body is finely regulated. Excess sodi um is usually excreted efficiently in the urine; in fact, adult rats have been successfully fed diets contain ing 25% sodium chloride for 3 months with no apparent ill effects (Richter 1956). At the other extreme, elaborate hormonal mechanisms ex
Antagonistic interactions by a high H2 O2 -producing commensal streptococci modulate caries development by Streptococcus mutans.

Dental caries (tooth-decay) is caused by biofilms harboring polymicrobial communities on teeth that leads to the onset of localized areas of enamel demineralization. Streptococcus mutans has been clinically associated with severe caries in childhood. Although commensal bacteria can combat S. mutans using self-generated antimicrobials such as hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ), constant sugar-rich diet consumption disrupts microbial homeostasis shifting towards cariogenic community. Recently, Streptococcus oralis subsp. tigurinus strain J22, an oral isolate, was identified as a uniquely potent H2 O2 producer. Here, we assess whether a high H2 O2 -producing commensal streptococci can modulate the spatial organization and virulence of S. mutans within biofilms. Using an experimental biofilm model, we find that the presence of S. oralis J22 can effectively inhibit the clustering, accumulation, and spatial organization of S. mutans on ex vivo human tooth surface, resulting in significant reduction of enamel demineralization. Notably, the generation of H2 O2 via pyruvate oxidase (SpxB) from S. oralis J22 is not repressed by sugars (a common repressor in other mitis group streptococci), resulting in enhanced inhibition of S. mutans growth (vs. S. gordonii). We further investigate its impact on biofilm virulence using an in vivo rodent caries model under sugar-rich diet. Co-infection of S. mutans with S. oralis results in reduced caries development compared to either species infected alone, whereas co-infection with S. gordonii has negligible effects, suggesting that the presence of an efficient, high H2 O2 -producer can disrupt S. mutans virulence. This work demonstrates that oral isolates with unusual high H2 O2 production may be capable of modulating biofilm cariogenicity in vivo. The findings also highlight the importance of bacterial antagonistic interactions within polymicrobial communities in health and in disease-causing state. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Migraine Headaches in Patients with Upper Extremity Compressive Neuropathy

Background: Upper extremity nerve compression syndromes and migraines caused by nerve entrapment have many similarities, including patient presentation, anatomical findings, and treatment by surgical decompression of affected nerves. Parallels between the two conditions point toward the possibility of shared predisposition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between migraine and upper extremity nerve compression. Methods: Nine thousand five hundred fifty-eight patients who underwent nerve decompression surgery of the upper extremity (median, ulnar, and radial nerves and thoracic outlet syndrome) as identified by CPT and International Classification of Diseases codes were included in the analysis. International Classification of Diseases codes for migraine and comorbidities included as part of the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index were identified. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was performed. Results: Median nerve decompression (OR, 1.3; 95 percent CI, 1.0 to 1.8; p = 0.046) and multiple nerve decompressions (OR, 1.7; 95 percent CI, 1.2 to 2.5; p = 0.008) were independently associated with higher rates of migraine compared to ulnar nerve decompression and thoracic outlet syndrome. Older age and male sex had a negative association with migraine. History of psychiatric disease, rheumatoid arthritis/collagen vascular diseases, hypothyroidism, hypertension, and chronic pulmonary disease were independently associated with migraine headache. Conclusions: Patients who undergo median and multiple nerve decompression are more likely to experience migraine headache. It is important to recognize this overlap and provide comprehensive patient screening for both conditions. This shared predisposition and better understanding of a common disease mechanism and genetics may provide greater insight into the pathogenesis and therefore treatment of these clinical problems. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.
Error Analysis of Regularized Integral Solutions to Poisson's Equation

In this paper, we introduce a new family of regularized kernels, suitable for boundary integral solutions to Poisson's equation. These high-order kernels are derived by a Taylor expansion of the non-regularized kernel about $(r^2+\epsilon^2)$; consequently, a sequence of increasingly accurate kernels can be derived. This paper proves the validity of the regularized kernels, and illustrates the benefits of using high-order kernels. A detailed error analysis showing the impact of using regularized kernels is also presented.
Learning action representations using kernel perceptrons

Action representation is fundamental to many aspects of cognition, including language. Theories of situated cognition suggest that the form of such representation is distinctively determined by grounding in the real world. This thesis tackles the question of how to ground action representations, and proposes an approach for learning action models in noisy, partially observable domains, using deictic representations and kernel perceptrons. Agents operating in real-world settings often require domain models to support planning and decision-making. To operate effectively in the world, an agent must be able to accurately predict when its actions will be successful, and what the effects of its actions will be. Only when a reliable action model is acquired can the agent usefully combine sequences of actions into plans, in order to achieve wider goals. However, learning the dynamics of a domain can be a challenging problem: agents’ observations may be noisy, or incomplete; actions may be non-deterministic; the world itself may be noisy; or the world may contain many objects and relations which are irrelevant. In this thesis, I first show that voted perceptrons, equipped with the DNF family of kernels, easily learn action models in STRIPS domains, even when subject to noise and partial observability. Key to the learning process is, firstly, the implicit exploration of the space of conjunctions of possible fluents (the space of potential action preconditions) enabled by the DNF kernels; secondly, the identification of objects playing similar roles in different states, enabled by a simple deictic representation; and lastly, the use of an attribute-value representation for world states. Next, I extend the model to more complex domains by generalising both the kernel and the deictic representation to a relational setting, where world states are represented as graphs. Finally, I propose a method to extract STRIPS-like rules from the learnt models. I give preliminary results for STRIPS domains and discuss how the method can be extended to more complex domains. As such, the model is both appropriate for learning data generated by robot explorations as well as suitable for use by automated planning systems. This combination is essential for the development of autonomous agents which can learn action models from their environment and use them to generate successful plans.
REEXAMINATION OF THE RADIAL ABUNDANCE GRADIENT BREAK IN NGC 3359

In this contribution, we reexamine the radial oxygen abundance gradient in the strongly barred spiral galaxy NGC 3359, for which, using an imaging spectrophotometric technique, Martin & Roy detected a break near the effective radius of the galaxy. We have new emission line flux measurements of H ii regions in NGC 3359 from spectra obtained with the Subaru telescope to further investigate this claim. We find that there are small systematic variations in the line ratios determined from narrowband imaging as compared to our spectroscopic measurements. We derive and apply a correction to the line ratios found by Martin & Roy and statistically examine the validity of the gradient break proposed for NGC 3359 using recently developed metallicity diagnostics. We find that, with a high degree of confidence, a model with a break fits the data significantly better than one without it. This suggests that the presence of a strong bar in spiral galaxies can generate measurable changes in the radial distribution of metals.
Introduction to Graph Theory

1. Fundamental Concepts. What Is a Graph? Paths, Cycles, and Trails. Vertex Degrees and Counting. Directed Graphs. 2. Trees and Distance. Basic Properties. Spanning Trees and Enumeration. Optimization and Trees. 3. Matchings and Factors. Matchings and Covers. Algorithms and Applications. Matchings in General Graphs. 4. Connectivity and Paths. Cuts and Connectivity. k-connected Graphs. Network Flow Problems. 5. Coloring of Graphs. Vertex Colorings and Upper Bounds. Structure of k-chromatic Graphs. Enumerative Aspects. 6. Planar Graphs. Embeddings and Euler's Formula. Characterization of Planar Graphs. Parameters of Planarity. 7. Edges and Cycles. Line Graphs and Edge-Coloring. Hamiltonian Cycles. Planarity, Coloring, and Cycles. 8. Additional Topics (Optional). Perfect Graphs. Matroids. Ramsey Theory. More Extremal Problems. Random Graphs. Eigenvalues of Graphs. Appendix A: Mathematical Background. Appendix B: Optimization and Complexity. Appendix C: Hints for Selected Exercises. Appendix D: Glossary of Terms. Appendix E: Supplemental Reading. Appendix F: References. Indices.
A New Approach for Reducing Virtual Reality Sickness in Real Time: Design and Validation Study

Background Recently, technology that provides virtual reality (VR) content based on streaming services has been rapidly developed. However, there have been few studies to reduce VR sickness that occurs while the user watches VR content while wearing a head-mounted display (HMD) in real time. Objective Based on this background, we propose a new approach to measure and reduce VR sickness that occurs while the user watches VR content while wearing an HMD in real time. Methods The proposed approach is to apply VR sickness reduction methods in accordance with the user’s real-time VR sickness level. Three methods that are known to be effective in reducing VR sickness and a single type of VR content were used to examine the effectiveness of the proposed approach, which was confirmed by the experimental results. Results Our results show that VR sickness significantly decreased when a new approach was applied to VR content (in all cases, P<.05). Conclusions From our results, it was confirmed that VR sickness could be measured without wearing additional equipment, and its reduction method could be applied in real time in accordance with the user’s condition by the proposed approach in this paper.
Pulsar Observations with the Fermi Large Area Telescope

The Large Area Telescope (LAT) on Fermi, launched on 2008 June 11, is a space telescope to explore the high energy gamma-ray universe. The instrument covers the energy range from 20 MeV to 300 GeV with greatly improved sensitivity and ability to localize gamma-ray point sources. It detects gamma-rays through conversion to electron-positron pairs and measurement of their direction in a tracker and their energy in a calorimeter. This thesis presents the gamma-ray light curves and the phase-resolved spectral measurements of radio-loud gamma-ray pulsars detected by the LAT. The measurement of pulsar spectral parameters (i.e. integrated flux, spectral index, and energy cut-off) depends on the instrument response functions (IRFs). A method developed for the on-orbit validation of the effective area is presented using the Vela pulsar. The cut efficiencies between the real data and the simulated data are compared at each stage of the background rejection. The results are then propagated to the IRFs, allowing the systematic uncertainties of the spectral parameters to be estimated. The last part of this thesis presents the discoveries, using both the LAT observations and the radio and X ephemeredes, of new individual gamma-ray pulsars such as PSR J0205+6449, and the Vela-like pulsars J2229+6114 and J1048-5832. Timing and spectral analysis are investigated in order to constrain the gamma-ray emission model. In addition, we discuss the properties of a large population of gamma-ray pulsars detected by the LAT, including normal pulsars, and millisecond pulsars.
The ISIS® prosthesis in 77 cases of trapeziometacarpal arthritis: outcomes and survival at a minimum follow-up of 5 years

The aim of this study was to determine the clinical and radiographic outcomes and survivorship of the ISIS® (Evolutis™, Briennon, France) trapeziometacarpal prosthesis at a minimum follow-up of 5 years. Of the 77 implants (66 patients) reviewed at a mean follow-up of 107.5 months, pain and function had improved significantly. Fourteen cups (19%) and three stems (4%) appeared to have loosened on radiographs. Loosening occurred more often with cemented cups than screwed cups (p = 0.0342). In five cases, the prosthesis was removed and revised by trapeziectomy and interposition: four were cemented cups (three loosening, one trapezium fracture) and one was a loosened metacarpal stem. A single case of dislocation occurred during the follow-up period. The survival rate was 94% (95% CI: 85 to 97). The ISIS® prosthesis is a reliable implant for treating disabling thumb basal joint arthritis, with a low complication rate and long-lasting clinical and functional improvements. Using a screwed trapezial cup instead of a cemented one appears to prevent loosening and the need for surgical revision. Level of evidence: IV
Outcome of cranial cruciate ligament replacement with an enhanced polyethylene terephthalate implant in the dog: A pilot clinical trial

Abstract Objective To assess the 6‐month outcome and survival of enhanced polyethylene terephthalate (PET) implants as a replacement for the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) in dogs with spontaneous CCL disease (CCLD). Study design Pilot, prospective case series. Animals Ten client‐owned large breed dogs with unilateral spontaneous CCLD. Methods Dogs were evaluated before and 6 months after intra‐articular placement of a PET implant with the Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs questionnaire and force platform gait analysis. Arthroscopy was performed 6 months after surgery to visually assess implant integrity. Results Scores on owner questionnaires and limb asymmetry improved in all dogs that reached the 6‐month time point, by 51.7% (p = .008) and 86% (p = .002), respectively. The PET implant appeared intact and functioning in two stifles, partially intact and functioning in four stifles and completely torn in three stifles. One dog had an implant infection and was removed from the study. Evidence of deterioration and tearing occurred in the midbody of the implant. Conclusion Although function improved over the course of this study, only 2/10 implants appeared intact 6 months after placement. Clinical significance Implant survivability prohibits further clinical investigation using this implant.