Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Foam Roll as a Tool to Improve Hamstring Flexibility

Abstract Junker, DH and Stöggl, TL. The foam roll as a tool to improve hamstring flexibility. J Strength Cond Res 29(12): 3480–3485, 2015—Although foam rolling is a common myofascial therapy used to increase range of motion (ROM), research is limited on the effectiveness of foam rolling on soft tissue extensibility. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a 4-week training period of the foam roll method on hamstring flexibility. Furthermore, the study was designed to compare the effectiveness of the foam roll myofascial release with a conventional contract-relax proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching method and a control group. Forty healthy males (age: 17–47 years) were randomly assigned to a foam roll group (FOAM, n = 13), a contract-relax PNF stretching group (CRPNF, n = 14), or a control group (CG, n = 13). The FOAM group massaged their hamstring muscles with the foam roll 3 times per week for 4 weeks (12 training sessions). The CRPNF group was assigned to 12 sessions of contract-relax PNF stretching. The CG underwent no intervention. Hamstring flexibility (ROM) was measured by a stand-and-reach test before and after the intervention period. Two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance showed a significant global time effect (p < 0.001) and an interaction effect for time × treatment (p = 0.004), demonstrating greater improvements in the FOAM and CRPNF compared with the CG, but no difference between the former. Delta changes from baseline to postintervention in ROM were not related to baseline ROM. The foam roll can be seen as an effective tool to increase hamstring flexibility within 4 weeks. The effects are comparable with the scientifically proven contract-relax PNF stretching method.
Metre‐scale cycles in shallow water carbonate successions: Milankovitch and stochastic origins

Metre‐scale cycles are a common feature in Precambrian and Phanerozoic shallow water carbonate successions, and astronomically forced changes in sea‐level (Milankovitch cycles) may have been an important driver controlling their deposition. Nevertheless, the degree to which potentially low amplitude astronomically paced sea‐level oscillations may have controlled carbonate accumulation in deep time is unclear. In this study, a stochastic model of carbonate accumulation demonstrates how metre‐scale exposure‐bound sequences can be generated under conditions of random sea‐level change. These sequences have characteristic durations close to Milankovitch cycles, despite the absence of any astronomical control on their formation. Metre‐scale sequences with sub‐Milankovitch (millennial‐scale) durations can also be generated by the model, potentially shedding light on the origin of sub‐Milankovitch sequences such as those recorded on the Middle Triassic Latemar platform of Northern Italy. Sensitivity tests demonstrate how shallow water carbonates may be very sensitive to weak (i.e. low amplitude) astronomically forced sea‐level oscillations. Notably, strong statistical evidence (P < 0·01) for astronomical cycles can be preserved in modelled successions even when astronomical forcing contributes <1% of the sea‐level variance on million year timescales. Taken together, metre‐scale cycles with Milankovitch‐scale durations in ancient carbonate successions may reveal very little about the amplitude, or even the existence, of astronomical forcing as a sea‐level driver.
Role of suture diameter and vessel insertion position in the establishment of the middle cerebral artery occlusion rat model

The aim of the present study was to explore the role of suture diameter and vessel insertion position in the preparation of the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model. A total of 84 Sprague-Dawley rats (weighing 250–300 g) were randomly divided to three groups: group A (type 1.0, suture diameter 0.16–0.17 mm and tip 0.21–0.22 mm); group B (type 2.0; suture diameter, 0.22–0.23 mm; tip, 0.27–0.28 mm); and group C (type 3.0; suture diameter, 0.28–0.29 mm; and tip, 0.33–0.34 mm). The animals in each group were then subdivided into two subgroups, one of which received a nylon line inserted through the external carotid artery (ECA insertion), while the other received the nylon line through the common carotid artery (CCA insertion) subsequent to a middle or lateral neck incision. The neurological deficit score was evaluated at 4, 8, 24, 48 and 72 h post-surgery. The ischemic brain tissue was stained by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) to evaluate the extent of the infarct volume. The cerebral edema rate, cerebral infarction volume rate, relative standard deviation (RSD) of the cerebral infarction rate and the success rate were also assessed. The rectal temperature, PaO2, PaCO2, pH, blood pressure and blood glucose levels were controlled and did not vary between the group types. The results suggested that suture diameter and insertion route affected the infarct volume and success rate in the establishment of the suture MCAO rat model. Furthermore, the MCAO model with a 0.22–0.23 mm diameter suture and CCA insertion route provided the highest success rate in the SD rats.
Reanalysis of the Obesity-Related Attenuation in the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Response to a Satiating Meal Using Gyral Regions-of-Interest

Objective: The left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (LDLPFC), which includes the inferior (IFG), middle (MFG), and superior (SFG) frontal gyri, has been implicated in satiation. Using a voxel-based approach, we previously identified an LDLPFC region (as reported as peak voxel) in which a reduced neuronal response to a meal was associated with obesity. In this study, we sought to determine which gyri in the LDLPFC best distinguished the neuronal responses to a meal using a different statistical approach. Methods: We reanalyzed brain responses to a meal using the hypothesis-driven region-of-interest–based (ROI) approach. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), a marker of neuronal activity in the LDLPFC and its 3 gyri, was acquired in 2 conditions (hunger and after the satiating meal) using 15O-water positron emission tomography scans. rCBF was extracted and estimated using masks of the 3 gyri that were created in MRIcro and Statistical Parametric Mapping 5 software. Results: Using the ROI approach, a satiation-related reduction in LDLPFC rCBF was observed in the obese (p = 0.04) and tended to be significantly greater than that in lean subjects (p = 0.07). The rCBF reduction was greater in the obese subjects than in the lean subjects in the left IFG (p = 0.03) and MFG (p = 0.004) after adjustment was made for age, sex, and number of voxels in these gyri, but not in the SFG (p = 0.5). Conclusions: Our results are consistent with those obtained by the voxel-based approach in showing the association between obesity and a satiation-related reduction in LDLPFC activity. This LDLPFC response preferentially involves the IFG and MFG. We suggest that these brain regions could be targeted by new therapeutic interventions.
Stomach antral endocrine cells in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

To the best of our knowledge, stomach antral endocrine cells have not previously been investigated in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Thus, in the present study, 76 patients with IBS were examined (designated as IBS-total). Diarrhoea was the predominant symptom in 26 of these patients (IBS-D), while in 21 patients, the predominant symptoms were both diarrhoea and constipation (IBS-M) and in 29 patients the predominant symptom was constipation (IBS-C). Forty-three healthy subjects were enrolled as the controls. Stomach antral biopsy samples obtained from all of the subjects were immunostained using the avidin-biotin-complex method for serotonin, gastrin, somatostatin and serotonin transporter (SERT). The immunopositive cell densities and immunoreactivity intensities were determined by computer-aided image analysis. The density of the serotonin-immunoreactive cells was significantly decreased in the IBS-M patients and increased in the IBS-C patients relative to the controls. The immunoreactivity intensity did not differ significantly between the controls and IBS-total. The density of the gastrin-immunoreactive cells was significantly greater in the IBS-D, IBS-M and IBS-C patients than in the controls. The immunoreactivity intensity of gastrin was significantly greater in the IBS-D patients than in the controls. The density of the somatostatin-immunoreactive cells cells was significantly lower in the IBS-total, IBS-D, IBS-M and IBS-C patients than in the controls. The immunoreactivity intensities of both somatostatin and SERT did not differ significantly between the controls and IBS-total. The increase in gastrin cell density and the decrease in somatostatin cell density in all IBS subtypes may cause high levels of gastric secretion, which may in turn contribute to the high incidence of dyspepsia and gastro-oesophageal reflux observed in patients with IBS.
Priming for Improved Hand Strength in Persons with Chronic Tetraplegia: A Comparison of Priming-Augmented Functional Task Practice, Priming Alone, and Conventional Exercise Training

Many everyday tasks cannot be accomplished without adequate grip strength, and corticomotor drive to the spinal motoneurons is a key determinant of grip strength. In persons with tetraplegia, damage to spinal pathways limits transmission of signals from motor cortex to spinal motoneurons. Corticomotor priming, which increases descending drive, should increase corticospinal transmission through the remaining spinal pathways resulting in increased grip strength. Since the motor and somatosensory cortices share reciprocal connections, corticomotor priming may also have potential to influence somatosensory function. The purpose of this study was to assess changes in grip (precision, power) force and tactile sensation associated with two different corticomotor priming approaches and a conventional training approach and to determine whether baseline values can predict responsiveness to training. Participants with chronic (≥1 year) tetraplegia (n = 49) were randomized to one of two corticomotor priming approaches: functional task practice plus peripheral nerve somatosensory stimulation (FTP + PNSS) or PNSS alone, or to conventional exercise training (CET). To assess whether baseline corticospinal excitability (CSE) is predictive of responsiveness to training, in a subset of participants, we assessed pre-intervention CSE of the thenar muscles. Participants were trained 2 h daily, 5 days/week for 4 weeks. Thirty-seven participants completed the study. Following intervention, significant improvements in precision grip force were observed in both the stronger and weaker hand in the FTP + PNSS group (effect size: 0.51, p = 0.04 and 0.54, p = 0.03, respectively), and significant improvements in weak hand precision grip force were associated with both PNSS and CET (effect size: 0.54, p = 0.03 and 0.75, p = 0.02, respectively). No significant changes were observed in power grip force or somatosensory scores in any group. Across all groups, responsiveness to training as measured by change in weak hand power grip force was correlated with baseline force. Change in precision grip strength was correlated with measures of baseline CSE. These findings indicate that corticomotor priming with FTP + PNSS had the greatest influence on precision grip strength in both the stronger and weaker hand; however, both PNSS and CET were associated with improved precision grip strength in the weaker hand. Responsiveness to training may be associated with baseline CSE.
Bioavailability and Biokinetics of Anthocyanins From Red Grape Juice and Red Wine

In a comparative study, 9 healthy volunteers ingested a single oral dose of 400 mL red grape juice or red wine with dose-adjusted anthocyanin content (283.5 mg or 279.6 mg, resp) in crossover. The content of anthocyanin glucosides was detected in plasma and urinary excretion. Additionally, the plasmatic antioxidant activity was assessed after intake. Based on the plasma content, biokinetic criteria of the single anthocyanins were calculated, such as AUC, cmax, tmax, and the elimination rate t1/2. The urinary excretion of total anthocyanins differed significantly and amounted to 0.18% (red wine) and 0.23% (red grape juice) of the administered dose. Additionally, the plasmatic antioxidant activity increased to higher levels after juice ingestion compared to wine. The intestinal absorption of the anthocyanins of red grape juice seemed to be improved compared to red wine, suggesting a possible synergistic effect of the glucose content of the juice. The improved absorption resulted in an enhanced plasmatic bioactivity.
Cardiovascular risk in androgen suppression: underappreciated, under-researched and unresolved

Prostate cancer is a major and increasing public health burden. Androgen suppression therapy (AST) for prostate cancer provides well-established benefits in advanced stages of the disease. Unfortunately, mounting evidence suggests an association between AST and increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In this viewpoint, the authors seek to raise awareness of an underappreciated problem, summarise the evidence linking AST and CVD risk, and highlight important research questions that need to be addressed. Given the lack of a clear evidence base with which to dictate, the authors discuss possible management options and how these might be integrated into existing care pathways.
Einflussfaktoren auf die Präferenz bei Produktkonfiguratoren - Eine empirische Studie am Beispiel der Automobilindustrie

Produktkonfiguratoren dienen als Individualisierungsinstrument der Mass Customization. Es konnte von einigen Autoren gezeigt werden, dass die Expertise des Kunden einen masgeblichen Einfluss auf die Praferenz bei Produktkonfiguratoren hat. So bevorzugen Experten Konfiguratoren mit der Moglichkeit Details zu spezifizieren (Parameterorientierung), wohingegen Novizen stattdessen die Angabe von Bedurfnissen vorziehen, die vom System in Parameter ubersetzt werden (Bedurfnisorientierung). In diesem Beitrag werden neben der Expertise weitere Einflussfaktoren auf die Konfiguratorpraferenz theoretisch diskutiert und in einer Studie empirisch untersucht. Es kann gezeigt werden, dass neben der Expertise auch der kognitive Aufwand einen weiteren wichtigen Einflussfaktor auf die Praferenz hinsichtlich Produktkonfiguratoren darstellt.
Sun Safety Among Farmers and Farmworkers: A Review

ABSTRACT Farmers and farmworkers face increased risks of skin cancer from exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) when working outdoors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the evidence from behavioral and intervention studies from the peer-reviewed studies related to sun safety among farmers and farmworkers and identify any gaps in the literature. A comprehensive review was conducted between 1990 and 2013; 22 studies were identified related to behavior and health interventions of sun safety among these targeted groups. The inconsistency of data collection methods makes it difficult to estimate with accuracy any overall meaningful results of behavior. However, from the studies reviewed, farmers and farmworkers most frequently reported wearing some type of hat (23.6%–100%) as a primary method of protection from the sun when working outdoors. Female farmers were more likely than male farmers to use sunscreen and engage in indoor tanning behavior. All sun safety educational interventions studies reviewed reported positive increases in behavioral change. To a large degree, adequate sun protection is lacking and varies geographically among farmers. Although targeted education is key to making improvements on sun protection behavior, aggressive attempts have to be made. Studies related to farmworkers, sun safety behavior, and skin cancer are scarce and more research is needed in this area.
Identification of novel mutations in Spanish patients with muscle carnitine palmitoyltransferase II deficiency

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase II (CPT II) deficiency is the most common recessively inherited disorder of lipid metabolism affecting skeletal muscle and the most frequent cause of hereditary myoglobinuria. We studied 5 Spanish patients with CPT II deficiency from four unrelated families. Four patients had the typical clinical phenotype of muscle CPT II deficiency with recurrent episodes of myoglobinuria, triggered by prolonged exercise, fasting, or fever, and marked elevation of creatine kinase values during metabolic crisis. One patient had exercise‐related myalgia, cramps and moderate elevation of serum CK values, but had never had myoglobinuria. Molecular analysis showed that three patients were heterozygous for the S113L mutation and one patient heterozygous for the P50H substitution. To identify the mutations in the other alleles of our patients we amplified and sequenced genomic DNA fragments encompassing the entire coding region and intron/exon boundaries of the CPT2 gene. We found the recently reported 178 insT/del 25 bp in one patient. Three novel mutations were identified: a Y120C substitution that leads to a nonconservative amino acid replacement; a 36‐38 insGC mutation that results in premature termination of the translation; and an I502T substitution that affects a conserved amino acid residue in the CPT II protein. Our data confirm the molecular heterogeneity of patients with CPT II deficiency, and suggest that the ethnic origin has to be taken into account before performing mutation analysis in these patients. Hum Mutat 15:579–580, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Interleukin‐21 activates human natural killer cells and modulates their surface receptor expression

Interleukin (IL)‐21 is a novel cytokine that has been shown to enhance proliferation and activation of CD8+ T cells, enhance natural killer (NK) cell activity and costimulate anti‐CD40‐driven B‐cell proliferation in mice. Several studies have furthermore demonstrated antitumour effects of IL‐21 administration in mouse models. In this study we have investigated how IL‐21 affects the survival and cytotoxicity of human NK cells and modulates their expression of surface receptors and of the effector molecules granzyme B and perforin. In contrast to murine NK cells, where IL‐21 alone cannot sustain survival, IL‐21 and IL‐2 were equally efficient in sustaining survival of human NK cells. In the absence of other cytokines, IL‐21 had little effect on expression of a panel of surface receptors on human NK cells. However, IL‐21 synergized with IL‐2 to up‐regulate several surface receptors, including NKG2A, CD25, CD86 and CD69. The CD25+ CD86+ NK cells were CD56bright and were large and granular. Expression of the effector molecules perforin and granzyme A and B was up‐regulated by IL‐21 at both mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, IL‐21 increased the cytotoxicity of NK cells against K562 target cells. These findings suggest that IL‐21 modulates NK cell activity through induction of intracellular effector molecules as well as modulation of surface receptor expression.
Trans–shell infection by pathogenic micro–organisms reduces the shelf life of non–incubated bird's eggs: a constraint on the onset of incubation?

Many birds initiate incubation before clutch completion, which results in asynchronous hatching. The ensuing within–brood size disparity often places later–hatched nestlings at a developmental disadvantage, but the functional significance of the timing of the onset of incubation is poorly understood. Early incubation may serve to maintain the viability of early–laid eggs, which declines over time owing to the putative effects of ambient temperature. An unexplored risk to egg viability is trans–shell infection by micro–organisms. We experimentally investigated the rate and magnitude of microbial trans–shell infection of the egg, and the relative effects of ambient temperature and micro–organisms on hatching success. We show that infection of egg contents is prevalent and occurs within the time required to lay a clutch. The probability of infection depends on the climatic conditions, the exposure period and the phylogenetic composition of the eggshell microbiota. We also demonstrate that microbial infection and ambient temperature act independently to reduce egg viability considerably. Our results suggest that these two factors could affect the onset of avian incubation in a wide range of environments.
MiR-194 Deregulation Contributes To Colorectal Carcinogenesis via Targeting AKT2 Pathway

Abstract: Recent studies have increasingly linked microRNAs to colorectal cancer (CRC). MiR-194 has been reported deregulated in different tumor types, whereas the function of miR-194 in CRC largely remains unexplored. Here we investigated the biological effects, mechanisms and clinical significance of miR-194. Functional assay revealed that overexpression of miR-194 inhibited CRC cell viability and invasion in vitro and suppressed CRC xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Conversely, block of miR-194 in APCMin/+ mice promoted tumor growth. Furthermore, miR-194 reduced the expression of AKT2 both in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, the expression of miR-194 gradually decreased from 20 normal colorectal mucosa (N-N) cases through 40 colorectal adenomas (CRA) cases and then to 40 CRC cases, and was negatively correlated with AKT2 and pAKT2 expression. Furthermore, expression of miR-194 in stool samples was gradually decreased from 20 healthy cases, 20 CRA cases, then to 28 CRC cases. Low expression of miR-194 in CRC tissues was associated with large tumor size (P=0.006), lymph node metastasis (P=0.012) and shorter survival (HR =2.349, 95% CI = 1.242 to 4.442; P=0.009). In conclusion, our data indicated that miR-194 acted as a tumor suppressor in the colorectal carcinogenesis via targeting PDK1/AKT2/XIAP pathway, and could be a significant diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for CRC.
Dengue Virus Enhances Thrombomodulin and ICAM-1 Expression through the Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Induction of the MAPK and PI3K Signaling Pathways

Dengue virus (DV) infections cause mild dengue fever (DF) or severe life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). The mechanisms that cause hemorrhage in DV infections remain poorly understood. Thrombomodulin (TM) is a glycoprotein expressed on the surface of vascular endothelial cells that plays an important role in the thrombin-mediated activation of protein C. Prior studies have shown that the serum levels of soluble TM (sTM) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) are significantly increased in DHF patients compared to levels in DF patients or normal controls. In this study, we investigated how MIF and sTM concentrations are enhanced in the plasma of DHF patients and the potential effect of MIF on coagulation through its influence on two factors: thrombomodulin (TM) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in endothelial cells and monocytes. Recombinant human macrophage migration inhibitory factor (rMIF) was used to treat monocytic THP-1 cells and endothelial HMEC-1 cells or primary HUVEC cells. The subsequent expression of TM and ICAM-1 was assessed by immunofluorescent staining and flow cytometry analysis. Additionally, the co-incubation of THP-1 cells with various cell signaling pathway inhibitors was used to determine the pathways through which MIF mediated its effect. The data provided evidence that severe DV infections induce MIF expression, which in turn stimulates monocytes or endothelial cells to express TM and ICAM-1 via the Erk, JNK MAPK and the PI3K signaling pathways, supporting the idea that MIF may play an important role as a regulator of coagulation.
Capacity Upper Bounds for the Deletion Channel

We present two upper bounds on the capacity of the i.i. d. binary deletion channel, where each bit is independently deleted with a fixed probability d. The first can be numerically evaluated for any fixed d. The second provides an asymptotic upper bound as d goes to 1. These appear to be the first nontrivial upper bounds for this probabilistic deletion channel.