Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The response of the lactate minimum test to a 12-week swimming training

Despite the utilization of lactate minimum test (LMT) in training, its intensity response to training remains controversial. The aim of the present study was to verify alterations of LMT intensity in swimmers during a 12-week training protocol. Eight swimmers were submitted to three LMT assessments: beginning of the season, T0; after four, T4; and twelve weeks, T12. The LMT consisted of a 200m maximal effort and, after eight minutes of passive rest, five incremental stages of 200m swimming. The intensities of the incremental stages were defined subjectively ("very light," "light," "moderate," "hard," and "all-out"). The training was divided in two blocks of periodization: endurance training period (ETP, T0 - T4), and quality plus taper period (QTP, T4 - T12). The LMT intensity of T4 and T12 were significantly higher than T0. We conclude that LMT is modified due to swimming training and can be used for training prescription and detection of aerobic capacity alterations during a season.
How family control influences FDI entry mode choice

Abstract This study investigates how family control influences entry mode choice between joint ventures and wholly owned subsidiaries. Based on past studies revealing family-controlled firms’ unique concerns regarding the preservation of socioemotional wealth, the researchers posit that, firms with higher family control respond more drastically to perceived environmental uncertainty when choosing their entry mode. The researchers hypothesize that, when perceiving high environmental uncertainty, firms with higher versus lower family control are more likely to choose joint ventures. However, when perceiving low environmental uncertainty, firms with higher versus lower family control tend to choose wholly owned subsidiaries. The empirical results obtained from a sample of 1,644 investments undertaken by publicly listed companies in Taiwan support the hypotheses.
An empirical study of ordinal condom use measures

Accurate condom use assessment is critical in sexually transmitted infection‐prevention research. Ordinal condom use frequency measures may be problematic due to subjective interpretation by respondents. To assess this potential bias, we examined the ordinal condom use labels (e.g., “never,” “rarely,” etc.) assigned by college students to 17 scenarios that described how frequently a hypothetical couple used condoms. Scenarios varied by condom use frequency (0% to 100%) and by whether frequency was described by stating the number of protected acts out of 20 total acts of intercourse, out of 100 total acts, or as a proportion of acts that were protected. There was substantial interpersonal variability in the labels assigned by participants in all 17 scenarios and inconsistent use of the “never” and “always” labels to characterize 0% and 100% condom use, respectively. The assigned labels varied as a function of the number of total acts (20 vs. 100) and whether condom use was expressed as a count or a percentage, which suggests that participants did not convert the number of protected acts to an equivalent proportion. These results call into question both the reliability and validity of ordinal condom use measures.
Socio-Scientific Issues in Health Contexts: Treading a rugged terrain

The science–technology–society agenda has evolved over time to meet emerging educational aims in the light of changes in society and the environment. There is increasing emphasis on students' decision-making on socio-scientific issues (SSIs) not only to highlight the intricate relationships between science, technology, society, and the environment, but also to allow students to incorporate multiple viewpoints into the development of critical reasoning and responsible citizenship. Most research emphases have been on the rationality of reasoning rather than on the internal psychological context that underpins reasoning. This paper explores how these various aspects of reasoning interact in decision-making on SSIs in health contexts through case studies of recent issues in this field. The case studies reveal the negotiation of multiple influences in addressing SSIs in health contexts and the potential interactions between the psychological processes of individuals, science, and sociocultural perspectives. A tentative model to address these interactions emerges from this explorative study and has implications for the use of health-related issues in promoting SSI education.
Beyond Leadership and Management: The Boundary-spanning Role of the Pro-Vice Chancellor

With the global increase in networked forms of organizations come new challenges for the conceptualization and practice of management and leadership. Universities have a networked organizational form being composed internally of multiple groups with both complementary and conflicting characteristics and expectations, and interfacing externally with a wide range of different stakeholders. Eight pro-vice chancellors (PVC) from a formal network of chartered UK universities were interviewed. The PVC role comprised strategic and operational activities associated with their functional role, and representational and decision-making duties associated with their membership of the senior management team. All of these activities required them to operate across multiple internal and external boundaries, and especially emphasize the information processing and representational functions characteristic of boundary spanners. It is argued therefore that management and leadership roles in universities may be more parsimoniously conceptualized as boundary spanning. The implications of this for recruitment to senior positions in universities are considered.
Using Q-Learning for Web Recommendations from Web Usage Data

With the rapid growth of the World Wide Web, the amount of information available online is increasing with an enormous pace. Recommender systems aim at pruning this information space and directing users toward the items that best meet their needs and interests. In this paper we propose a novel machine learning perspective toward the problem, based on reinforcement learning. We model the problem as Q-Learning, employing concepts and techniques commonly applied in the web usage mining domain. We propose that reinforcement learning paradigm provides an appropriate model for the recommendation problem, as well as a framework in which the system constantly interacts with the user and learns from her behavior. Our experimental evaluations support our claims and demonstrate how this approach can improve the quality of web recommendations.
Effects of additional vitamin E and selenium supply on antioxidative defence mechanisms in the kidney of rats treated with high doses of glucocorticoid

The aim of this work was to determine the effects of dietary vitamin E and selenium (Se) on lipid peroxidation as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and on the antioxidative defence mechanisms in the kidney of rats treated with high‐doses of prednisolone. Two hundred and fifty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups. The rats were fed a normal diet, but groups 3, 4, and 5 received a daily supplement in their drinking water of 20 mg vitamin E, 0.3 mg Se, and a combination of vitamin E and Se, respectively, for 30 days. For 3 days subsequently, the control group (group 1) was treated with a placebo, and the remaining four groups were injected intramuscularly with 100 mg kg−1 body weight (bw) prednisolone. After the last administration of prednisolone, 10 rats from each group were killed at 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 h and the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) and catalase (CAT) enzymes, and the levels of glutathione (GSH) and TBARS in their kidneys were measured. GSH‐Px and CAT enzyme activities and GSH levels in the prednisolone treatment group (group 2) began to decrease gradually at 4 h, falling respectively to 48 and 65% of the control levels by 24 h, and recovering to the control levels at 48 h. In contrast, prednisolone administration caused an increase in TBARS in the kidneys, reaching up to twice the levels of the control group at 24 h. However, supplementation with vitamin E and Se had a preventive effect on the elevation of kidney TBARS and improved the diminished activities of the antioxidative enzymes and the levels of GSH. Therefore, the present study demonstrates the effectiveness of vitamin E and Se in reducing kidney damage in glucocorticoid‐treated rats and suggests that reductions in increased TBARS due to prednisolone may be an important factor in the action of vitamin E and Se. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The acceptability of an Internet-based self-help treatment for fear of public speaking

ABSTRACT Several randomised controlled studies have shown the efficacy of Internet-based self-help treatments. These studies have centred their attention on axis I (efficacy) of the Guidelines for Empirically Validated Treatments, although there are a few studies that also take into account axis II (effectiveness). The aim of the present work was to test the acceptability of an Internet-based self-help program for fear of public speaking and to compare its acceptability with the same treatment administered by a therapist. Fifty-two participants suffering from social phobia were randomly selected to take part in one of these treatments. All participants reported being satisfied with the treatment received, and results did not show significant differences between both treatments. These outcomes were maintained at 12-month follow-ups.
From Anabolic to Oxidative: Reconsidering the Roles of IL-15 and IL-15R&agr; in Skeletal Muscle

Interleukin 15 (IL-15) and its receptor IL-15 receptor-&agr; (IL-15R&agr;) are suggested to function in the determination of skeletal muscle phenotypes, with IL-15 originally proposed as an anabolic cytokine. This review will focus on recent work demonstrating that manipulation of IL-15 and IL-15R&agr; in vivo promotes changes in exercise capacity, muscle fatigue, and gene expression indicative of a more oxidative skeletal muscle phenotype.
A case series of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for reducing symptom interference in functional neurological disorders.

There is limited high-quality evidence supporting psychological treatments for functional neurological disorders (FNDs), and what evidence exists suggests that the impact of such treatments could be improved. One way to increase effectiveness is to utilize approaches that can have impact across heterogeneous FND presentations. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) targets a transdiagnostic process called psychological flexibility and is used effectively to integrate multidisciplinary treatments in other clinical contexts. Here, we present a consecutive case series (N = 8) of a relatively brief (6 to 10 sessions) ACT intervention, delivered face to face by a clinical psychologist in an outpatient neuropsychology service. Treatment aimed to reduce symptom interference and improve mood via improvements in psychological flexibility. Service users presented with a range of FND symptoms (e.g., syncope, limb paralysis, and paraesthesia). Following treatment, 5 participants showed reliable improvements in symptom interference (Work and Social Adjustment Scale), 2 to the extent of clinical significance; 4 had reliable improvements in mood (Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-10), and 2 within the range of clinical significance. There were no reliable deteriorations in symptom interference or mood. Marked variation was apparent on the measure of psychological flexibility (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II), with 4 reliable improvements, 3 within the range of clinical significance, and also 2 reliable deteriorations. These promising results suggest that further investigation of an ACT approach to FND is warranted. Future studies should include measures of psychological flexibility with greater comprehensibility.
Targeted vaccination with meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine in one district of the Czech Republic

Summary Vaccination against Neisseria meningitidis is not part of routine immunization schemes in any country; instead, targeted vaccination of groups at the highest risk is recommended during outbreaks and epidemics. After a long period of sporadic occurrence of meningococcal invasive disease, a new clone of Neisseria meningitidis C: 2a: P1.2, ET-15/37, occurred in the Czech Republic, and caused local outbreaks in two neighbouring districts, Olomouc and Bruntal, in spring 1993. In Olomouc, a mass campaign was conducted during which 6191 students were vaccinated (5·6 % of the total population of this locality and 96% of all students in the age group 15–19) within 2 weeks in June 1993. In Bruntal district, no such campaign was organized. In Olomouc, the incidence of invasive disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis C in the age group 10–24 decreased from 57 to 0 per 100000 (P < 0·001) during the post-vaccination period (July 1993–August 1994), but no such decrease was observed in Bruntal. Although other factors can affect the frequency of disease, these results support the current recommendations of targeted vaccination in outbreaks of meningococcal disease.
Resistance to a polyquaternium-1 lens care solution and isoelectric points of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to correlate the cell surface hydrophobicity and charge of various strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with their resistance to a polyquaternium-1 lens care solution. METHODS The 11 P. aeruginosa strains included were isolated from eyes, contact lenses, lens cases and lens care solutions. Cell surface hydrophobicities were determined from water contact angle measurements and surface charges were measured as a function of pH using particulate micro-electrophoresis. RESULTS Strains resistant to polyquaternium-1 had an isoelectric point (IEP; pH where the bacterial zeta potential is zero) ranging from 4.0 to 5.5, whereas susceptible strains were more negatively charged than resistant strains and had an IEP between 1.3 and 1.9. Water contact angles ranged from hydrophilic (34 degrees) to hydrophobic (124 degrees), without showing a relation with antimicrobial resistance. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that electrostatic repulsion between cationic molecules on the cell surface and quaternary ammonium compounds impedes the antimicrobial entering the cell.
Exploring Regional Variation in Spatial Language Using Spatially Stratified Web-Sampled Route Direction Documents

Abstract: Spatial language, such as route directions, can be analyzed to shed light on how humans communicate and conceptualize spatial knowledge. This article details a computational linguistic approach using route directions to study regional variations in spatial language. We developed a web-sourcing approach to collect human-generated route direction documents on a geographical scale. Specifically, we built the Spatially strAtified Route Direction (SARD) Corpus through automated scraping, classifying, and georeferencing of route directions. Based on semantic categories of cardinal and relative direction terms, the analysis of the SARD Corpus reveals significant differences and patterns on both national (United States, United Kingdom, and Australia) and regional (contiguous U.S. states) levels. Combining computational linguistics and georeferencing approaches offers the potential for extending classic spatial linguistic studies.
Community attitudes toward Black English

Black English is increasingly recognized as a systemic, ‘rule-governed’, form of language (lect), like any other, at least among scholars. There is less adequate understanding of the meaning of Black English to those who use it. Such understanding requires ethnographic study of the place of Black English in the verbal repertoire of the community in which it is used. There has been some work in this area, but much of it has focused on aspects of Black English of interest for linguistic theory, e.g. the possibility of creole origins as a constraint on variability. Such studies have tended not to recognize the full scope and complexity of Black English. The aspects given attention have been those most exotic and remote from conventional English (for criticism on this point, see Abrahams (1972) and Wright (1972) ). While such studies have increased recognition and acceptance of Black English, the model in terms of which they have done so has been implicitly the ‘other culture’ model. There has been an appeal to the acceptance of cultural difference associated in our minds with Ruth Benedict's studies of Patterns of Culture, Margaret Mead's studies in Samoa and New Guinea, etc. This ‘other culture’ model is inadequate to the situation of the Black Community. There is partial truth to it; respect for the ways in which Black Americans may differ from ‘mainstream’ expectations is necessary. But social policy and action, especially in regard to education, cannot be based on so partial a truth. This became clear when well-meaning scholars attempted to introduce elementary school readers that used vernacular Black English. There was great protest from many in the Black community itself.
Comparison of sample preparation methods for the recovery of foodborne pathogens from fresh produce.

Sample preparation methods (pummeling, pulsifying, sonication, and shaking by hand) were compared for achieving maximum recovery of foodborne pathogens from iceberg lettuce, perilla leaves, cucumber, green pepper, and cherry tomato. Antimicrobial and dehydration effects also were examined to investigate causes of poor recovery of pathogens. Each produce type was inoculated with Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus at 6.0 log CFU/cm(2), and samples were prepared using the four methods. Bacterial populations recovered from the five types of produce were significantly different (P < 0.05) according to sample preparation methods and produce type. The bacterial populations recovered from pummeled and pulsified samples were higher (P < 0.05) than those recovered from sonicated and hand-shaken samples, except for cherry tomato. The number of bacteria recovered from produce was reduced (P < 0.05) from that of the inoculum by 0.16 to 2.69 log CFU/cm(2). Although extracts of iceberg lettuce, perilla leaves, cucumber, and green pepper had no antimicrobial activity, the populations of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, B. cereus, and L. monocytogenes in cherry tomato extract were slightly reduced after these treatments (P < 0.05). The pathogen populations on perilla leaves and cherry tomatoes decreased by >2 log CFU/cm(2) after exposure to 40% relative humidity for 1 h. No reduction was observed when the five pathogens were exposed to 90% relative humidity. These data suggest that pummeling and pulsifying are optimal sample preparation methods for detection of microorganisms. Acidic produce such as cherry tomato should be treated with a method that does not cause sample breakdown so that acid stress on the bacteria can be minimized. Dehydration stress also affects recovery of pathogens from produce.
Exogenous Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Boosts Acclimatization in Rats Exposed to Acute Hypobaric Hypoxia: Assessment of Haematological and Metabolic Effects

Background The physiological challenges posed by hypobaric hypoxia warrant exploration of pharmacological entities to improve acclimatization to hypoxia. The present study investigates the preclinical efficacy of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) to improve acclimatization to simulated hypobaric hypoxia. Experimental Approach Efficacy of intravenously administered S1P in improving haematological and metabolic acclimatization was evaluated in rats exposed to simulated acute hypobaric hypoxia (7620m for 6 hours) following S1P pre-treatment for three days. Major Findings Altitude exposure of the control rats caused systemic hypoxia, hypocapnia (plausible sign of hyperventilation) and respiratory alkalosis due to suboptimal renal compensation indicated by an overt alkaline pH of the mixed venous blood. This was associated with pronounced energy deficit in the hepatic tissue along with systemic oxidative stress and inflammation. S1P pre-treatment improved blood oxygen-carrying-capacity by increasing haemoglobin, haematocrit, and RBC count, probably as an outcome of hypoxia inducible factor-1α mediated erythropoiesis and renal S1P receptor 1 mediated haemoconcentation. The improved partial pressure of oxygen in the blood could further restore aerobic respiration and increase ATP content in the hepatic tissue of S1P treated animals. S1P could also protect the animals from hypoxia mediated oxidative stress and inflammation. Conclusion The study findings highlight S1P’s merits as a preconditioning agent for improving acclimatization to acute hypobaric hypoxia exposure. The results may have long term clinical application for improving physiological acclimatization of subjects venturing into high altitude for occupational or recreational purposes.
UGT1A1*28 genotype affects the in-vitro glucuronidation of thyroxine in human livers

Objective L-thyroxine (T4), the most widely used drug for hypothyroidism, undergoes glucuronidation by UDP-glucuronosyltransferases. Clinical evidence obtained after the administration of anticonvulsants suggest that glucuronidation may play an important role in T4 homeostasis in humans. The aims of this study were to determine the T4 glucuronidation ability of all commercially available human UGTs, and investigate the relationship between genetic polymorphisms in UGT1A1 and UGT1A9 and T4 glucuronidation in human livers. Methods Glucuronidation of T4 in human liver microsomes and recombinant UDP-glucuronosyltransferases was measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography. UGT1A1 −53(TA)6>7 (UGT1A1*28) and UGT1A9 −118T9>10 (UGT1A9*1b) variants were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction and sizing. Results A strong correlation was observed between the glucuronidation of T4 and SN-38, a UGT1A1 substrate (r=0.82, P<0.0001). A significant trend of decreasing T4 glucuronide (T4G) levels was observed with increasing number of UGT1A1 −53(TA)7 alleles (P=0.001). Other hepatic UDP-glucuronosyltransferases involved in T4G formation are UGT1A3 and UGT1A9. No significant relationship was observed between UGT1A9 −118T9>10 and T4 glucuronidation activity. T4 can also undergo glucuronidation by UGT1A8 and UGT1A10, which are expressed in the gastrointestinal tract (but not the liver) and may be important for first-pass T4 metabolism.
Genetic Diversity in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and Its Wild Relatives

Tomato, ranking 1st in the world for vegetables, accounts for 14% of world vegetable production (over 100 million metric tons/year $ 1.6 billion market; (Food and Agriculture Organisation [FAO] 2010). Tomato is a rich source of micronutrients for human diet. It is also an acknowledged model species for research on fruit development and metabolite accumulation. The major goals of tomato breeders (higher productivity, better tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses and increased sensory and health value of the fruit) require a good comprehension and management of tomato genetic resources diversity.