Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of reactive oxygen species in contraction‐mediated glucose transport in mouse skeletal muscle

Exercise increases glucose transport into skeletal muscle via a pathway that is poorly understood. We investigated the role of endogenously produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in contraction‐mediated glucose transport. Repeated contractions increased 2‐deoxyglucose (2‐DG) uptake roughly threefold in isolated, mouse extensor digitorum longus (fast‐twitch) muscle. N‐Acetylcysteine (NAC), a non‐specific antioxidant, inhibited contraction‐mediated 2‐DG uptake by ∼50% (P < 0.05 versus control values), but did not significantly affect basal 2‐DG uptake or the uptake induced by insulin, hypoxia or 5‐aminoimidazole‐4‐carboxamide‐1‐β‐d‐ribofuranoside (AICAR, which mimics AMP‐mediated activation of AMP‐activated protein kinase, AMPK). Ebselen, a glutathione peroxidase mimetic, also inhibited contraction‐mediated 2‐DG uptake (by almost 60%, P < 0.001 versus control values). Muscles from mice overexpressing Mn2+‐dependent superoxide dismutase, which catalyses H2O2 production from superoxide anions, exhibited a ∼25% higher rate of contraction‐mediated 2‐DG uptake versus muscles from wild‐type control mice (P < 0.05). Exogenous H2O2 induced oxidative stress, as judged by an increase in the [GSSG]/[GSH + GSSG] (reduced glutathione + oxidized glutathione) ratio to 2.5 times control values, and this increase was substantially blocked by NAC. Similarly, NAC significantly attenuated contraction‐mediated oxidative stress as judged by measurements of glutathione status and the intracellular ROS level with the fluorescent indicator 5‐(and‐6)‐chloromethyl‐2′,7′‐dichlorodihydrofluorescein (P < 0.05). Finally, contraction increased AMPK activity and phosphorylation ∼10‐fold, and NAC blocked ∼50% of these changes. These data indicate that endogenously produced ROS, possibly H2O2 or its derivatives, play an important role in contraction‐mediated activation of glucose transport in fast‐twitch muscle.
Control of airborne infectious diseases in ventilated spaces

We protect ourselves from airborne cross-infection in the indoor environment by supplying fresh air to a room by natural or mechanical ventilation. The air is distributed in the room according to different principles: mixing ventilation, displacement ventilation, etc. A large amount of air is supplied to the room to ensure a dilution of airborne infection. Analyses of the flow in the room show that there are a number of parameters that play an important role in minimizing airborne cross-infection. The air flow rate to the room must be high, and the air distribution pattern can be designed to have high ventilation effectiveness. Furthermore, personalized ventilation may reduce the risk of cross-infection, and in some cases, it can also reduce the source of infection. Personalized ventilation can especially be used in hospital wards, aircraft cabins and, in general, where people are in fixed positions.
TLR2 activation causes tachyphylaxis to β2‐agonists in vitro and ex vivo: modelling bacterial exacerbation

Asthma is a widespread chronic health problem exacerbated by common viral and bacterial infections. Further research is required to understand how infection worsens asthma control in order to advance therapeutic options in the future. Recent research has revealed that β2‐adrenergic receptor (β2‐AR) agonists lose bronchodilatory efficacy because the receptor‐mediated molecular pathways responsible for their beneficial actions are desensitized by infection. To date, most studies have focussed on viral infection, leaving the impact of bacterial infection on β2‐AR desensitization relatively under‐investigated. We address this in this study.
EGNAT: A Fully Dynamic Metric Access Method for Secondary Memory

We introduce a novel metric space search data structure called EGNAT, which is fully dynamic and designed for secondary memory. The EGNAT is based on Brin's GNAT static index, and partitions the space according to hyperplanes. The EGNAT implements deletions using a novel technique dubbed Ghost Hyperplanes, which is of independent interest for other metric space indexes. We show experimentally that the EGNAT is competitive with the M-tree, the baseline for this scenario.
Video Games in Health Care: Closing the Gap

Although a great deal of media attention has been given to the negative effects of playing video games, relatively less attention has been paid to the positive effects of engaging in this activity. Video games in health care provide ample examples of innovative ways to use existing commercial games for health improvement or surgical training. Tailor-made games help patients be more adherent to treatment regimens and train doctors how to manage patients in different clinical situations. In this review, examples in the scientific literature of commercially available and tailor-made games used for education and training with patients and medical students and doctors are summarized. There is a history of using video games with patients from the early days of gaming in the 1980s, and this has evolved into a focus on making tailor-made games for different disease groups, which have been evaluated in scientific trials more recently. Commercial video games have been of interest regarding their impact on surgical skill. More recently, some basic computer games have been developed and evaluated that train doctors in clinical skills. The studies presented in this article represent a body of work outlining positive effects of playing video games in the area of health care.
Potential of carotid ultrasonography in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease: a comparison with exercise test and variance ECG.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Carotid artery atherosclerosis has been shown to correlate with coronary artery disease (CAD). This study evaluates the capacity of duplex ultrasonography of the carotid arteries as a tool in the diagnosis of CAD in comparison with exercise stress test and variance ECG. METHODS Carotid ultrasonography, exercise stress test, and variance ECG were performed in 184 symptomatic patients evaluated with coronary angiography. The diagnostic capacity of the studied noninvasive methods was assessed by use of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves constructed by successive consideration of several cut points, such as (1) the presence of unilateral/bilateral plaques and (2) cross-sectional common carotid artery (CCA) intima-media (IM) area from 10 to 30 mm2 for ultrasonography; (1) ST depression > or =0.1 mV and > or =0.2 mV with and (2) without chest pain for exercise test; and electrical variability index from 50 to 100 for variance ECG. RESULTS Coronary angiography revealed the presence of CAD (> or =50% luminal stenosis in 1 or more major epicardial arteries) in 147 patients (80%). Identification of carotid plaques on one or both sides and calculation of the left-sided (but not right-sided) CCA IM area provided a significant discrimination (P<.001 and P<.01, respectively) of patients with CAD. The discriminating capacity of the ultrasound procedures was equal to that of variance ECG and exercise test with ST depression criterion only but somewhat lower than that of exercise test with the combined chest pain and ST depression criterion (P<.05). However, at the chosen cut points, carotid plaque identification offered higher sensitivity than exercise test with either criterion (P<.01 and P<.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Carotid ultrasonography is a useful diagnostic method that is comparable to exercise test and variance ECG for detection of CAD in a high-prevalence population.
The economics, neurobiology and pharmacology of intertemporal choice in humans

In intertemporal choice, decision-makers must choose between options whose outcomes occur at different times in the future and are associated with different magnitudes of gain or loss. Previous neuropsychological research on this problem is dominated by a behavioural-economic model which proposes that choice outcome is solely determined by a process of devaluing rewards with time, termed temporal discounting. This thesis investigates the veracity of this assumption by developing a new mathematical model of choice which takes into account another fundamental feature of human preference, namely the non-linearity of the relationship between the utility and magnitude of gains. Using behavioural data, methodologies are developed to demonstrate that this model is superior to previous models in accounting for human intertemporal choices. Specifically, using existing terminologies ‘impulsive’ and ‘self-controlled’ to describe preference in choices between smaller-sooner and larger-later monetary rewards, it is shown that the discounting of increasing magnitudes implied by the law of diminishing marginal utility exerts a significant effect in determining choice outcome. In addition to high rates of temporal discounting, it is shown that impulsivity can be engendered by higher rates of diminishing marginal utility and vice-versa. A neuronal account of this model is delineated using neuroimaging techniques, revealing fundamental properties of the brain’s value systems. It is shown that sub-components of value relating to time and magnitude are evaluated by distinct systems and then integrated to furnish an overall metric of utility used to guide choice – in accordance with utility theory. Finally, the ability of the neurotransmitter dopamine to modulate these features of preference and neurobiological systems is investigated using pharmacological manipulation, where it is shown that enhancing dopamine activity engenders impulsivity. These behavioural and neural findings are shown to offer a compelling account of the pathological impulsivity observed as a feature of disorders associated with aberrant dopamine function.
Education and employment prospects in cerebral palsy

Parents and paediatric neurologists need information on the long‐term social prognosis of children with cerebral palsy (CP). No large population‐based study has been performed on this topic. On 31 December 1999, to find predictors in childhood of subsequent education and employment, 819 participants with CP born between 1965 and 1978 (471 males; mean age 28y 10mo, SD 4y, range 21 to 35y) in the Danish Cerebral Palsy Registry were compared with 4406 controls without CP born between 1965 and 1978 (2546 males; mean age 28y 10mo, SD 4y, range 21 to 35y). Diagnostic subtypes of the 819 participants with CP were: 31% hemiplegia, 43% diplegia, 18% tetraplegia, and 8% other types. Level of motor impairment with respect to walking ability was: 62% able to walk without assistance, 21% with assistance, and 16% not able to walk (for 1% of study children walking ability was not known). Relevant information was obtained from Denmark's unique registries. Of the participants with CP, 33% vs 77% of controls, had education beyond lower secondary school (i.e. after age 15‐16y), 29% were competitively employed (vs 82% of controls), 5% were studying, and 5% had specially created jobs. Excluding participants with CP with an estimated developmental quotient (DQ) of less than 50 or inability to walk at age 5 to 6 years, the odds ratios (multivariate analysis) for not being competitively employed were 1.9 for diplegia versus hemiplegia, 22.5 for DQ 50 to 85 versus DQ greater than 85, and 3.7 for those with epilepsy versus those without epilepsy. The severity of motor impairment among participants with CP able to walk had just a minor influence. Only half the participants with CP who had attended mainstream schooling were employed. In conclusion several childhood characteristics seemed to predict long‐term social prognosis.
Evidence for Edg-3 receptor-mediated activation of I(K.ACh) by sphingosine-1-phosphate in human atrial cardiomyocytes.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (SPP) and sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPPC) have been reported to activate muscarinic receptor-activated inward rectifier K(+) current (I(K.ACh)) in cultured guinea pig atrial myocytes with similar nanomolar potency. Members of the endothelial differentiation gene (Edg) receptor family were recently identified as receptors for SPP; however, these receptors respond only to micromolar concentrations of SPPC. Here we investigated the sphingolipid-induced activation of I(K.ACh) in freshly isolated guinea pig, mouse, and human atrial myocytes. SPP activated I(K.ACh) in atrial myocytes from all three species with a similar nanomolar potency (EC(50) values: 4-8 nM). At these low concentrations, SPPC also activated I(K.ACh) in guinea pig myocytes. In contrast, SPPC was almost ineffective in mouse and human myocytes, thus resembling the pharmacology of the Edg receptors. Transcripts of Edg-1, Edg-3, and Edg-5 were detected in human atrial cells. Moreover, activation of I(K.ACh) by SPP was blocked by the Edg-3-selective antagonist suramin, which did not affect basal or carbachol-stimulated K(+) currents. In conclusion, these data indicate that I(K.ACh) activation by SPP and SPPC exhibits large species differences. Furthermore, they suggest that SPP-induced I(K.ACh) activation in human atrial myocytes is mediated by the Edg-3 subtype of SPP receptors.
Initial and Fatigue Bond Strengths of Nanofilled and Conventional Composite Bonding Adhesives

Aim To compare the initial and fatigue shear bond strengths of a nanofilled adhesive with a conventional light-cured adhesive in an ex vivo laboratory study. Methods Fifty hydroxyapatite discs were prepared by cold pressing. Using a standardized bonding protocol, 100 Victory series upper left central incisor brackets were bonded to discs with Transbond™ Supreme LV nanofilled composite resin and 100 brackets were bonded to discs with Transbond XT. Fifty brackets from each group were subjected to cyclic loading (5000 cycles at 2 Hz) at 50% of the mean bond strength in a Dartec Series HC10 Testing Machine. Initial (unfatigued) and fatigued bond strengths were determined by applying a shear force at the bracket/substrate interface using a custom-made metal jig in an Instron Universal Testing Machine. Results and statistical analysis One-way analysis of variance showed that Transbond Supreme LV exhibited higher initial mean bond strength than Transbond XT (P = 0·001). No statistically significant difference was found between the fatigue bond strengths of Transbond Supreme LV and Transbond XT (P = 0·323). Two-way analysis of variance demonstrated statistically significant differences when the effect of the composite resin (P = 0·013) and fatigue (P = 0·017) were considered individually. However, when considered in combination there was no statistical significance (P = 0·09). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed superior survival of unfatigued brackets with Transbond Supreme LV, but there was no significant difference between the adhesives after fatiguing. Conclusions The initial bond strength of Transbond Supreme LV was significantly higher than Transbond XT, while the fatigue bond strengths of both resins were comparable. Overall, Transbond Supreme LV demonstrated superior survival under loading than Transbond XT. However, while this was statistically significant for the initial loading, it was not significant after fatiguing. Although these laboratory findings are useful as indicators of potential clinical performance, extrapolation of these results should be carried out with caution.
Automatic Discovery of Telic and Agentive Roles from Corpus Data

We present two methods for automatically discovering the telic and agentive roles of nouns from corpus data. These relations form part of the qualia structure assumed in generative lexicon theory, where the telic role represents a typical purpose of the entity and the agentive role represents the origin of the entity. The first discovery method uses hand-generated templates for each role type, and the second employs a supervised machine-learning technique. To evaluate the effectiveness of the two methods, we took a sample of 30 nouns, selected 50 verbs for each, and then generated a ranked list of verbs for a given noun. Using a variant of Spearman’s rank correlation, we demonstrate the ability of the methods to identify qualia structure.
Influence of Phonological Awareness, Morphological Awareness and Non-Verbal Ability on Reading Comprehension in Malayalam.

In the context of observations that students lack mastery of elementary reading comprehension in Malayalam even by the end of 5-7 years of formal schooling, this study applies multiple regression analysis for reading comprehension. Longitudinal survey data from a representative sample of 159 lower primary students from grade 2 to 4 revealed Reading Comprehension as significantly and positively related to Morphological Awareness, Phonological awareness and Ravens non-verbal ability. The three predictors account for near 1/3 of the variation in reading comprehension in Malayalam of elementary school learners. Findings suggest enhancing phonological and morphological awareness in order to develop reading comprehension. © 2013 Guru Journal of Behavioral and Social Sciences Understanding meaning from the written text is crucial to effective reading. Meaningful reading is inevitable in education, and is indispensable for student and adult lives. Reading comprehension, a core component of language skills, is however an advanced and complicated skill. Comprehension allows the reader to interact with the text in a meaningful way. It is the bridge from passive reading to active reading i.e., from letters and words to characters and contexts. For younger children, reading comprehension is the foundation to future academic learning of all subjects. Reading with comprehension has its constructive effects on other aspects of language learning too. Enhanced vocabulary from meaningful reading makes children confident in speaking and writing. It helps learners in being proficient in making predictions, sequencing stories and in clarifying complex texts. Meaningful reading help learners to connect text with life experiences and prior knowledge, making them even better learners. Difficulties in reading with comprehension do significantly affect spoken language skills, causing difficulties in literacy, with associated spoken language deficits (Mayers & Bottin, 2008).
Investigating novice White teachers in African American classrooms: A phenomenological investigation of cultural responsiveness

INVESTIGATING NOVICE WHITE TEACHERS IN AFRICAN AMERICAN CLASSROOMS: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS by Debra J. Barrineau This study deconstructed the degree to which novice White teachers in an elementary school in a rural middle Georgia district were aware of and prepared for the challenges inherent in teaching in a predominantly African American classroom. Four novice, White teachers participated in the study. The student population of the school was 72% African American, nearly 10% White, and more than 17% Hispanic. Using a phenomenological approach, data were collected using an open-ended questionnaire in order to determine the teachers’ perceived academic and non-academic needs of their students and to explore how their awareness of the needs of their students influenced the educational experiences the teachers provided in their classrooms. Classroom observations were utilized in order to determine how the teachers related to their students and the manner in which they demonstrated responsiveness to the students’ academic needs, through the activities they provided. The teachers demonstrated only a limited ability to understand the academic and non-academic needs of their students, due mainly to a lack of understanding of the cultural dynamics of the African American students residing in this rural community. Through a lack of ability to build necessary bridges within the school community, the teachers failed to establish a trusting relationship with parents, which would have helped mitigate the disconnect between the environment of the school and the environment of the students’ homes. In addition, the teachers’ efforts to support their students through multicultural activities were merely superficial. Some of the teachers were more focused on the perceived needs of the students than on using the rich heritage of students in order to build a community of learners that would foster greater levels of academic success. The findings of this study will benefit those interested in cultural responsiveness by suggesting the need for teacher preparation programs to increase the academic and experiential focus on cross-cultural teaching. It will also benefit school districts by suggesting the need for ongoing professional development and focused induction programs for teachers who are teaching cross-culturally. INVESTIGATING NOVICE WHITE TEACHERS IN AFRICAN AMERICAN CLASSROOMS: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS by Debra J. Barrineau
Cell Division in Bacillus subtilis: FtsZ and FtsA Association Is Z-Ring Independent, and FtsA Is Required for Efficient Midcell Z-Ring Assembly

ABSTRACT The earliest stage in cell division in bacteria is the assembly of a Z ring at the division site at midcell. Other division proteins are also recruited to this site to orchestrate the septation process. FtsA is a cytosolic division protein that interacts directly with FtsZ. Its function remains unknown. It is generally believed that FtsA localization to the division site occurs immediately after Z-ring formation or concomitantly with it and that FtsA is responsible for recruiting the later-assembling membrane-bound division proteins to the division site. Here, we report the development of an in vivo chemical cross-linking assay to examine the association between FtsZ and FtsA in Bacillus subtilis cells. We subsequently use this assay in a synchronous cell cycle to show that these two proteins can interact prior to Z-ring formation. We further show that in a B. subtilis strain containing an ftsA deletion, FtsZ localized at regular intervals along the filament but the majority of Z rings were abnormal. FtsA in this organism is therefore critical for the efficient formation of functional Z rings. This is the first report of abnormal Z-ring formation resulting from the loss of a single septation protein. These results suggest that in this organism, and perhaps others, FtsA ensures recruitment of the membrane-bound division proteins by ensuring correct formation of the Z ring.
Functional aspects of the interaction between interleukin-8 and sulfated glycosaminoglycans

During the immune response, the cytokine interleukin 8 (IL-8, CXCL8) functions as a strong chemoattractant for polymorphonuclear leukocytes helping to direct these cells to infected/injured sites. This review focuses on the interaction of IL-8 with sulfated glycosaminoglycans expressed on cell surfaces and the extracellular matrix. This interaction contributes to the recruitment of polymorphonuclear cells from blood, penetration of these cells through the vessel wall, and their directed migration to inflammatory sites. Regulatory aspects of the interplay between IL-8 and heparan sulfate, the most abundant glycosaminoglycan, are highlighted. In this field, the large natural heterogeneity of glycosaminoglycans represents a great challenge that impedes the modeling of IL-8 functions. The interaction of IL-8 with newly developed artificial sulfated hyaluronan derivatives is also considered as these artificial substrates are an important tool for development of new materials in regenerative medicine.