Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential effects of attentional focus strategies during long-term resistance training

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of using an internal versus external focus of attention during resistance training on muscular adaptations. Thirty untrained college-aged men were randomly assigned to an internal focus group (INTERNAL) that focused on contracting the target muscle during training (n = 15) or an external focus group (EXTERNAL) that focused on the outcome of the lift (n = 15). Training for both routines consisted of 3 weekly sessions performed on non-consecutive days for 8 weeks. Subjects performed 4 sets of 8–12 repetitions per exercise. Changes in strength were assessed by six repetition maximum in the biceps curl and isometric maximal voluntary contraction in knee extension and elbow flexion. Changes in muscle thickness for the elbow flexors and quadriceps were assessed by ultrasound. Results show significantly greater increases in elbow flexor thickness in INTERNAL versus EXTERNAL (12.4% vs. 6.9%, respectively); similar changes were noted in quadriceps thickness. Isometric elbow flexion strength was greater for INTERNAL while isometric knee extension strength was greater for EXTERNAL, although neither reached statistical significance. The findings lend support to the use of a mind–muscle connection to enhance muscle hypertrophy.
Measurement of track structure parameters of low and medium energy helium and carbon ions in nanometric volumes

Ionization cluster size distributions produced in the sensitive volume of an ion-counting wall-less nanodosimeter by monoenergetic carbon ions with energies between 45 MeV and 150 MeV were measured at the TANDEM-ALPI ion accelerator facility complex of the LNL-INFN in Legnaro. Those produced by monoenergetic helium ions with energies between 2 MeV and 20 MeV were measured at the accelerator facilities of PTB and with a 241Am alpha particle source. C3H8 was used as the target gas. The ionization cluster size distributions were measured in narrow beam geometry with the primary beam passing the target volume at specified distances from its centre, and in broad beam geometry with a fan-like primary beam. By applying a suitable drift time window, the effective size of the target volume was adjusted to match the size of a DNA segment. The measured data were compared with the results of simulations obtained with the PTB Monte Carlo code PTra. Before the comparison, the simulated cluster size distributions were corrected with respect to the background of additional ionizations produced in the transport system of the ionized target gas molecules. Measured and simulated characteristics of the particle track structure are in good agreement for both types of primary particles and for both types of the irradiation geometry. As the range in tissue of the ions investigated is within the typical extension of a spread-out Bragg peak, these data are useful for benchmarking not only ‘general purpose’ track structure simulation codes, but also treatment planning codes used in hadron therapy. Additionally, these data sets may serve as a data base for codes modelling the induction of radiation damages at the DNA-level as they almost completely characterize the ionization component of the nanometric track structure.
Wright's Shifting Balance Theory and the Diversification of Aposematic Signals

Despite accumulating evidence for selection within natural systems, the importance of random genetic drift opposing Wright's and Fisher's views of evolution continue to be a subject of controversy. The geographical diversification of aposematic signals appears to be a suitable system to assess the factors involved in the process of adaptation since both theories were independently proposed to explain this phenomenon. In the present study, the effects of drift and selection were assessed from population genetics and predation experiments on poison-dart frogs, Ranitomaya imitator, of Northern Peru. We specifically focus on the transient zone between two distinct aposematic signals. In contrast to regions where high predation maintains a monomorphic aposematic signal, the transient zones are characterized by lowered selection and a high phenotypic diversity. As a result, the diversification of phenotypes may occur via genetic drift without a significant loss of fitness. These new phenotypes may then colonize alternative habitats if successfully recognized and avoided by predators. This study highlights the interplay between drift and selection as determinant processes in the adaptive diversification of aposematic signals. Results are consistent with the expectations of the Wright's shifting balance theory and represent, to our knowledge, the first empirical demonstration of this highly contested theory in a natural system.
Endothelin-1 Inhibits Prolyl Hydroxylase Domain 2 to Activate Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α in Melanoma Cells

Background The endothelin B receptor (ETBR) promotes tumorigenesis and melanoma progression through activation by endothelin (ET)-1, thus representing a promising therapeutic target. The stability of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α is essential for melanomagenesis and progression, and is controlled by site-specific hydroxylation carried out by HIF-prolyl hydroxylase domain (PHD) and subsequent proteosomal degradation. Principal Findings Here we found that in melanoma cells ET-1, ET-2, and ET-3 through ETBR, enhance the expression and activity of HIF-1α and HIF-2α that in turn regulate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in response to ETs or hypoxia. Under normoxic conditions, ET-1 controls HIF-α stability by inhibiting its degradation, as determined by impaired degradation of a reporter gene containing the HIF-1α oxygen-dependent degradation domain encompassing the PHD-targeted prolines. In particular, ETs through ETBR markedly decrease PHD2 mRNA and protein levels and promoter activity. In addition, activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-dependent integrin linked kinase (ILK)-AKT-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is required for ETBR-mediated PHD2 inhibition, HIF-1α, HIF-2α, and VEGF expression. At functional level, PHD2 knockdown does not further increase ETs-induced in vitro tube formation of endothelial cells and melanoma cell invasiveness, demonstrating that these processes are regulated in a PHD2-dependent manner. In human primary and metastatic melanoma tissues as well as in cell lines, that express high levels of HIF-1α, ETBR expression is associated with low PHD2 levels. In melanoma xenografts, ETBR blockade by ETBR antagonist results in a concomitant reduction of tumor growth, angiogenesis, HIF-1α, and HIF-2α expression, and an increase in PHD2 levels. Conclusions In this study we identified the underlying mechanism by which ET-1, through the regulation of PHD2, controls HIF-1α stability and thereby regulates angiogenesis and melanoma cell invasion. These results further indicate that targeting ETBR may represent a potential therapeutic treatment of melanoma by impairing HIF-1α stability.
Comparison between Electrocardiographic and Earlobe Pulse Photoplethysmographic Detection for Evaluating Heart Rate Variability in Healthy Subjects in Short- and Long-Term Recordings

Heart rate variability (HRV) is commonly used to assess autonomic functions and responses to environmental stimuli. It is usually derived from electrocardiographic signals; however, in the last few years, photoplethysmography has been successfully used to evaluate beat-to-beat time intervals and to assess changes in the human heart rate under several conditions. The present work describes a simple design of a photoplethysmograph, using a wearable earlobe sensor. Beat-to-beat time intervals were evaluated as the time between subsequent pulses, thus generating a signal representative of heart rate variability, which was compared to RR intervals from classic electrocardiography. Twenty-minute pulse photoplethysmography and ECG recordings were taken simultaneously from 10 healthy individuals. Ten additional subjects were recorded for 24 h. Comparisons were made of raw signals and on time-domain and frequency-domain HRV parameters. There were small differences between the inter-beat intervals evaluated with the two techniques. The current findings suggest that our wearable earlobe pulse photoplethysmograph may be suitable for short and long-term home measuring and monitoring of HRV parameters.
Laboratory tests on heat treatment of ballast water using engine waste heat

ABSTRACT Waste heat recovery from shipboard machineries could be a potential source for heat treatment of ballast water. Similar to a shipboard schematic arrangement, a laboratory-scale engine-heat exchanger set-up harvesting waste heat from jacket water and exhaust gases was erected to test the level of species’ mortalities. Mortalities were also assessed under experimental conditions for cultured and natural plankton communities at laboratory level. Effect of pump impellers on species’ mortalities were also tested. Exposures between 60°C and 70°C for 60 sec resulted in 80–100% mortalities. Mortalities due to pump impeller effects were observed in the range of 70–100% for zooplankton. On the laboratory-scale arrangement, >95% mortalities of phytoplankton, zooplankton and bacteria were recorded. It was demonstrated that the temperature of tropical sea waters used as secondary coolant can be raised to cause species’ mortalities, employing engine exhaust gases. The results also indicated that pump impeller effects will enhance species’ mortalities. The limitations of the shipboard application of this method would be the large ballast volumes, flow rates and time for treatment. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Fistulinella ruschii, sp. nov., and a new record of Fistulinella campinaranae var. scrobiculata for the Atlantic Forest, Brazil

ABSTRACT Fistulinella is a small genus of boletoid fungi in the subfamily Austroboletoideae in the order Boletales. In this paper, F. ruschii from the Atlantic Forest is proposed as new to science and F. campinaranae var. scrobiculata, known from the Brazilian Amazon forest, is recorded for the first time in the Atlantic Forest. Macro- and microscopic descriptions, molecular data (nuc rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and nuc 28S rDNA), photographs of the basidiomata, and scanning electron microscopy images of basidiospores are provided for both species. Based on sampling of six taxa, New World Fistulinella is found to be a strongly supported monophyletic group, but the genus at large is nonmonophyletic.
Foraging Behavior and Success of a Mesopelagic Predator in the Northeast Pacific Ocean: Insights from a Data-Rich Species, the Northern Elephant Seal

The mesopelagic zone of the northeast Pacific Ocean is an important foraging habitat for many predators, yet few studies have addressed the factors driving basin-scale predator distributions or inter-annual variability in foraging and breeding success. Understanding these processes is critical to reveal how conditions at sea cascade to population-level effects. To begin addressing these challenging questions, we collected diving, tracking, foraging success, and natality data for 297 adult female northern elephant seal migrations from 2004 to 2010. During the longer post-molting migration, individual energy gain rates were significant predictors of pregnancy. At sea, seals focused their foraging effort along a narrow band corresponding to the boundary between the sub-arctic and sub-tropical gyres. In contrast to shallow-diving predators, elephant seals target the gyre-gyre boundary throughout the year rather than follow the southward winter migration of surface features, such as the Transition Zone Chlorophyll Front. We also assessed the impact of added transit costs by studying seals at a colony near the southern extent of the species’ range, 1,150 km to the south. A much larger proportion of seals foraged locally, implying plasticity in foraging strategies and possibly prey type. While these findings are derived from a single species, the results may provide insight to the foraging patterns of many other meso-pelagic predators in the northeast Pacific Ocean.
CO2 Efflux from Cleared Mangrove Peat

Background CO2 emissions from cleared mangrove areas may be substantial, increasing the costs of continued losses of these ecosystems, particularly in mangroves that have highly organic soils. Methodology/Principal Findings We measured CO2 efflux from mangrove soils that had been cleared for up to 20 years on the islands of Twin Cays, Belize. We also disturbed these cleared peat soils to assess what disturbance of soils after clearing may have on CO2 efflux. CO2 efflux from soils declines from time of clearing from ∼10 600 tonnes km−2 year−1 in the first year to 3000 tonnes km2 year−1 after 20 years since clearing. Disturbing peat leads to short term increases in CO2 efflux (27 umol m−2 s−1), but this had returned to baseline levels within 2 days. Conclusions/Significance Deforesting mangroves that grow on peat soils results in CO2 emissions that are comparable to rates estimated for peat collapse in other tropical ecosystems. Preventing deforestation presents an opportunity for countries to benefit from carbon payments for preservation of threatened carbon stocks.
Health professional perspectives of patient safety issues in intensive care units in Saudi Arabia

AIM To examine attitudes to patient safety in two intensive care units from the perspective of health care professionals in Saudi Arabia. BACKGROUND Despite adverse errors leading to poor patient outcomes, there is a paucity of literature, including staff perceptions, on adverse errors in Saudi Arabian intensive care units. METHODS A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. Health professionals (n = 144) completed the safety attitude questionnaire-intensive care unit. RESULTS The scores from the six safety domains of the safety attitude questionnaire-intensive care unit showed all respondents had a negative attitude towards patient safety, with participants in one intensive care unit scoring lower in all domains. The mean scores across all domains ranged from 47.1 to 70.3 on a 100-point scale, with the lowest score reported in the "perceptions of management" domain. Respiratory therapists reported a significantly higher job satisfaction score than nurses, and physicians rated communication amongst themselves and nurses as high. CONCLUSION There are significant challenges for safety culture in this study, with negative attitudes across all domains. IMPLICATION FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT Managers may need to review and consider policies relating to safety culture including workforce planning, leadership and patient centred care. Further research into this global health priority is required to contribute to improving patient safety in intensive care units.
FK506 reduces abnormal prion protein through the activation of autolysosomal degradation and prolongs survival in prion-infected mice

Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders and no effective treatment has been established to date. In this study, we evaluated the effect of FK506 (tacrolimus), a macrolide that is known to be a mild immunosuppressant, on prion infection, using cell culture and animal models. We found that FK506 markedly reduced the abnormal form of prion protein (PRNPSc) in the cell cultures (N2a58 and MG20) infected with Fukuoka-1 prion. The levels of autophagy-related molecules such as LC3-II, ATG12–ATG5 and ATG7 were significantly increased in the FK506-treated cells, and resulted in the increased formation of autolysosomes. Upregulation of the autophagy-related molecules was also seen in the brains of FK506-treated mice and the accumulation of PRNPSc was delayed. The survival periods in mice inoculated with Fukuoka-1 were significantly increased when FK506 was administered from day 20 post-inoculation. These findings provide evidence that FK506 could constitute a novel antiprion drug, capable of enhancing the degradation of PRNPSc in addition to attenuation of microgliosis and neuroprotection.
Microallopatry Caused Strong Diversification in Buthus scorpions (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in the Atlas Mountains (NW Africa)

The immense biodiversity of the Atlas Mountains in North Africa might be the result of high rates of microallopatry caused by mountain barriers surpassing 4000 meters leading to patchy habitat distributions. We test the influence of geographic structures on the phylogenetic patterns among Buthus scorpions using mtDNA sequences. We sampled 91 individuals of the genus Buthus from 51 locations scattered around the Atlas Mountains (Antiatlas, High Atlas, Middle Atlas and Jebel Sahro). We sequenced 452 bp of the Cytochrome Oxidase I gene which proved to be highly variable within and among Buthus species. Our phylogenetic analysis yielded 12 distinct genetic groups one of which comprised three subgroups mostly in accordance with the orographic structure of the mountain systems. Main clades overlap with each other, while subclades are distributed parapatrically. Geographic structures likely acted as long-term barriers among populations causing restriction of gene flow and allowing for strong genetic differentiation. Thus, genetic structure and geographical distribution of genetic (sub)clusters follow the classical theory of allopatric differentiation where distinct groups evolve without range overlap until reproductive isolation and ecological differentiation has built up. Philopatry and low dispersal ability of Buthus scorpions are the likely causes for the observed strong genetic differentiation at this small geographic scale.
Comparison of Five Slope Correction Methods for Leaf Area Index Estimation From Hemispherical Photography

We compare five slope correction methods developed by Walter et al., Montes et al., Schleppi et al., España et al., and Gonsamo et al. (referred to as WAL, MON, SCH, ESP, and GON, respectively) using artificial fisheye pictures simulated by graphics software and a lookup table (LUT) retrieval method. The LUT is built by simulating the directional gap fraction as a function of leaf area index (LAI) and average leaf inclination angle (ALIA) using the Poisson law. LAI and ALIA estimates correspond to the case of the LUT that provides the lowest root-mean-square error between the observed gap fractions after slope correction and the simulated ones. Three LAI values (1.5, 3.5, and 5.5), four ALIA values (26.8°, 45°, 57.5°, and 63.2°), and three slope angles (0°, 20°, and 50°) constituted 36 samples of random scenes. ESP is recommended because its results are accurate and independent on the leaf angle distribution (LAD), while GON only performs well for spherical LAD. The three other methods present less good performances with underestimation or overestimation of LAI and/or ALIA depending on the LAD, and the recommended order for them is MON, SCH, and WAL.
Acute Drug Treatment in the Early C. elegans Embryo

Genetic and genome-wide RNAi approaches available in C. elegans, combined with tools for visualizing subcellular events with high-resolution, have led to increasing adoption of the early C. elegans embryo as a model for mechanistic and functional genomic analysis of cellular processes. However, a limitation of this system has been the impermeability of the embryo eggshell, which has prevented the routine use of small molecule inhibitors. Here, we present a method to permeabilize and immobilize embryos for acute inhibitor treatment in conjunction with live imaging. To identify a means to permeabilize the eggshell, we used a dye uptake assay to screen a set of 310 candidate genes defined by a combination of bioinformatic criteria. This screen identified 20 genes whose inhibition resulted in >75% eggshell permeability, and 3 that permeabilized embryos with minimal deleterious effects on embryo production and early embryonic development. To mount permeabilized embryos for acute drug addition in conjunction with live imaging, we combined optimized inhibition of one of these genes with the use of a microfabricated chamber that we designed. We demonstrate that these two developments enable the temporally controlled introduction of inhibitors for mechanistic studies. This method should also open new avenues of investigation by allowing profiling and specificity-testing of inhibitors through comparison with genome-wide phenotypic datasets.
Relationship Between Stabilization, Balance, Athletic Performance and Functional Movement

Relationship Between Stabilization, Balance, Athletic Performance and Functional Movement Susan Christine Ashdown Department of Exercise Sciences, BYU Master of Science The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the functional movement screen (FMS) and a battery of stabilization, balance, and athletic performance assessments, including time to stabilization (TTS), Davies test (DT), Y-Balance test (YBT), and maximum vertical jump (VJ). Sixty-one healthy individuals (32 males, 29 females; age: 22.4 ± 2.7 yr; height: 174.4 ± 10.4 cm, body mass: 74.0 ± 18.8 kg), successfully performed the FMS and the accompanying comparison tests. Correlations were generated between the FMS and TTS, DT, YBT, and VJ (including both unilateral and bilateral assessments) using the R Project for Statistical Computing, with statistical significance set at p < . 001 to minimize alpha inflation. Weak correlations were generated between participants’ total FMS score (summed from the 7 FMS assessments) and the TTS-left side (r = -.43; p < 0.001), TTS-right side (r = -.35; p<0.006), DT (r = .54; p < 0.0001), and VJ (r = .33; p = 0.101). Moderately strong correlations were generated between total FMS scores and the YBT-left side (r = .69; p < 0.0001) and YBT-right side (r = .70; p < 0.0001). Similar weak significant correlations were generated when comparing the scores of each individual FMS screen with the TTS, DT, YBT, and VJ. Of these, the highest correlations were between the in-line lunge-left side and the YBT-left side (r = .72; p ≤ 0. 001); the in-line lunge-left side and YBT-right side (r = .75; p ≤ 0.001); the trunk stability push-up and VJ (r = .60; p < 0.0001); and the active straight leg raise-left side and TTS-left side (r = -.46; p < 0.0001). In summary, mostly weak correlations were found between the FMS (involving total or individual scores) and the comparison assessments employed in this study. More rigorous investigations are now warranted to determine the causality of these relationships and how the FMS might be applied to activity of daily living, athletic performance, and injury prevention.
Bioactive sesquiterpenoids and steroids from the resinous exudates of Commiphora myrrha

Abstract Chemical investigation of the resinous exudates of Commiphora myrrha has led to the isolation of four sesquiterpenes (1a/1b, 2, and 3), including one pair of new sesquiterpene enantiomers (1a/1b), one new racemic mixture 2, and two steroids (4 and 5). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, and the absolute configurations of 1a/1b were determined by CD analysis. The antimigratory potential of compounds 1–5 were evaluated and compound 3 was found to inhibit human hepatocellular liver carcinoma HepG2 cell migration in dose-dependent manner.