Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EFFECTS OF ICE WITH ACTIVE WARMUP AND ACTIVE WARMUP ALONE ON PERFORMANCE IN FOOTBALL PLAYER

Study objective: To know the effects of ice before active warm up on athletic performance. Study design: Post test same subject group design. Study Setting: Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Battalion No 31, Okhla, New Delhi. Subjects: 30 Healthy athletic malefootball players of age 18-24 years participated in the study. Measurement: A total number of 30 homogenous subjects were randomly assigned into two groups Group ‘A’ and ‘B’, each group consisting of 15 subjects. Group A was given Ice pack before Active warm up and group B was given Active warm up alone. Each warm-up protocol was given at least 48 hours after the previous protocol. After all the warm-up protocols three maximal performance tests viz., single leg vertical jump height, forty yard sprint and Agility shuttle run was done in each subject. Results: Repeated measure ANOVA with Post Hoc Analysis Bonferroni was used to compare the entirethree performance test after the warm-up protocol. The result indicates that there is highly significant difference after active warm-up than the ice pack with active warm-up protocol in single leg vertical jump height, forty yard sprint and agility shuttle run (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The study results showed that ice pack application before the active warm up decreases the athletic performance and thus active warm up alone is better for enhancing the athletic performances
Subtle gaze direction

This article presents a novel technique that combines eye-tracking with subtle image-space modulation to direct a viewer's gaze about a digital image. We call this paradigm subtle gaze direction. Subtle gaze direction exploits the fact that our peripheral vision has very poor acuity compared to our foveal vision. By presenting brief, subtle modulations to the peripheral regions of the field of view, the technique presented here draws the viewer's foveal vision to the modulated region. Additionally, by monitoring saccadic velocity and exploiting the visual phenomenon of saccadic masking, modulation is automatically terminated before the viewer's foveal vision enters the modulated region. Hence, the viewer is never actually allowed to scrutinize the stimuli that attracted her gaze. This new subtle gaze directing technique has potential application in many areas including large scale display systems, perceptually adaptive rendering, and complex visual search tasks.
STAT2 Mediates Innate Immunity to Dengue Virus in the Absence of STAT1 via the Type I Interferon Receptor

Dengue virus (DENV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus, and symptoms of infection range from asymptomatic to the severe dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS). High viral loads correlate with disease severity, and both type I & II interferons (IFNs) are crucial for controlling viral replication. We have previously reported that signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 1-deficient mice are resistant to DENV-induced disease, but little is known about this STAT1-independent mechanism of protection. To determine the molecular basis of the STAT1-independent pathway, mice lacking STAT1, STAT2, or both STAT1 and STAT2 were infected with a virulent mouse-adapted strain of DENV2. In the first 72 hours of infection, the single-deficient mice lacking STAT1 or STAT2 possessed 50–100 fold higher levels of viral RNA than wild type mice in the serum, spleen, and other visceral tissues, but remained resistant to DENV-induced death. In contrast, the double-deficient mice exhibited the early death phenotype previously observed in type I and II IFN receptor knockout mice (AG129), indicating that STAT2 is the mediator of the STAT1-independent host defense mechanism. Further studies demonstrated that this STAT2-dependent STAT1-independent mechanism requires the type I IFN receptor, and contributes to the autocrine amplification of type I IFN expression. Examination of gene expression in the spleen and bone marrow-derived macrophages following DENV infection revealed STAT2-dependent pathways can induce the transcription of a subset of interferon stimulated genes even in the absence of STAT1. Collectively, these results help elucidate the nature of the poorly understood STAT1-independent host defense mechanism against viruses by identifying a functional type I IFN/STAT2 signaling pathway following DENV infection in vivo.
6 Gender and obesity

Multiple factors contribute to the development, maintenance and treatment of obesity. Viewing obesity through a gender relations approach helps to understand how an individual’s interactions with others and society contributes to health opportunities and constraints, resulting in excess body weight. In gender relations theory, the body is viewed as both an agent and a product of social practice, whereby lifestyle behaviours influenced by an individual’s context may impact on the physical body. This chapter presents life histories of two men in their 20s who have experience with obesity. Analysis of the production and power relations, relationships and symbolism reveal the marginalising effect of their obesity, and how gender interacts with other social structures including ethnicity and class. A holistic approach that considers how an individual configures their masculinity or femininity may assist in promoting and maintaining weight loss in obese individuals as it addresses the struggle in society experienced by many obese people.
Mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA stainability in human sperm cells: a flow cytometry analysis with implications for male infertility.

Sperm cells from control donors of proven fertility and men from barren couples were studied by conventional procedures, i.e., light microscopy as well as flow cytometry. Light microscopy analysis of semen included the measurement of spermatozoa concentration, morphology, and motility. All the men from barren couples were asthenozoospermic at the conventional analysis of semen samples. Flow cytometry was applied to study two important parameters of sperm cells: mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) assessed by the cationic dye JC-1 and DNA stainability with propidium iodide (PI). JC-1 staining was more reliable than the classical procedure used for this purpose, i.e., rhodamine 123 (Rh123) staining, and allowed us to show a positive correlation between MMP and spermatozoa motility. Regarding DNA analysis, a higher relative percentage of immature spermatozoa, showing a high accessibility of DNA to the intercalating PI fluorochrome, was found in men from barren couples compared to donors of proven fertility. The relative percentage of immature spermatozoa was significantly higher in semen from oligoasthenozoospermic subjects. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between immature spermatozoa, as evaluated by PI staining, and cells with depolarized mitochondria, as evaluated by JC-1 staining, suggesting that spermatozoa defective for nuclear maturity could be functionally defective cells. No correlation between immature spermatozoa determined by FCM and immature spermatozoa determined by light microscopy was found, suggesting that these two techniques assess sperm cell maturity at different levels.
Mouse Genetics Suggests Cell-Context Dependency for Myc-Regulated Metabolic Enzymes during Tumorigenesis

c-Myc (hereafter called Myc) belongs to a family of transcription factors that regulates cell growth, cell proliferation, and differentiation. Myc initiates the transcription of a large cast of genes involved in cell growth by stimulating metabolism and protein synthesis. Some of these, like those involved in glycolysis, may be part of the Warburg effect, which is defined as increased glucose uptake and lactate production in the presence of adequate oxygen supply. In this study, we have taken a mouse-genetics approach to challenge the role of select Myc-regulated metabolic enzymes in tumorigenesis in vivo. By breeding λ-Myc transgenic mice, Apc Min mice, and p53 knockout mice with mouse models carrying inactivating alleles of Lactate dehydrogenase A (Ldha), 3-Phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (Phgdh) and Serine hydroxymethyltransferase 1 (Shmt1), we obtained offspring that were monitored for tumor development. Very surprisingly, we found that these genes are dispensable for tumorigenesis in these genetic settings. However, experiments in fibroblasts and colon carcinoma cells expressing oncogenic Ras show that these cells are sensitive to Ldha knockdown. Our genetic models reveal cell context dependency and a remarkable ability of tumor cells to adapt to alterations in critical metabolic pathways. Thus, to achieve clinical success, it will be of importance to correctly stratify patients and to find synthetic lethal combinations of inhibitors targeting metabolic enzymes.
Piperine as an adjuvant increases the efficacy of curcumin in mitigating benzo(a)pyrene toxicity

In the present study, the antioxidative and anticlastogenic effects of curcumin and piperine separately and in combination have been investigated against benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)-mediated toxicity in mice. Male Swiss albino mice were pretreated with curcumin (100 mg kg−1 body weight) and piperine (20 mg kg−1 body weight) separately as well as in combination orally in corn oil for 7 days; and subsequently, after 2 h of pretreatment, BaP was administered orally in corn oil (125 mg kg−1 body weight). A single dose of BaP in normal mice increased the levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein carbonyl content (PCC), and frequency of bone marrow micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs) but decreased significantly the levels of endogenous antioxidants such as superoxide dismutases (SODs), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in the liver. Pretreatments with curcumin and curcumin plus piperine before administration of single dose of BaP significantly decreased the levels of LPO, PCC, and incidence of MNPCEs but elevated the level of GSH and enzyme activities of GPx, GR, SOD, CAT, and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) when compared to the BaP-treated group. The effect of curcumin plus piperine is more pronounced as compared to curcumin in attenuating BaP-induced oxidative insult and clastogenicity.
Multimodal Movement Prediction - Towards an Individual Assistance of Patients

Assistive devices, like exoskeletons or orthoses, often make use of physiological data that allow the detection or prediction of movement onset. Movement onset can be detected at the executing site, the skeletal muscles, as by means of electromyography. Movement intention can be detected by the analysis of brain activity, recorded by, e.g., electroencephalography, or in the behavior of the subject by, e.g., eye movement analysis. These different approaches can be used depending on the kind of neuromuscular disorder, state of therapy or assistive device. In this work we conducted experiments with healthy subjects while performing self-initiated and self-paced arm movements. While other studies showed that multimodal signal analysis can improve the performance of predictions, we show that a sensible combination of electroencephalographic and electromyographic data can potentially improve the adaptability of assistive technical devices with respect to the individual demands of, e.g., early and late stages in rehabilitation therapy. In earlier stages for patients with weak muscle or motor related brain activity it is important to achieve high positive detection rates to support self-initiated movements. To detect most movement intentions from electroencephalographic or electromyographic data motivates a patient and can enhance her/his progress in rehabilitation. In a later stage for patients with stronger muscle or brain activity, reliable movement prediction is more important to encourage patients to behave more accurately and to invest more effort in the task. Further, the false detection rate needs to be reduced. We propose that both types of physiological data can be used in an and combination, where both signals must be detected to drive a movement. By this approach the behavior of the patient during later therapy can be controlled better and false positive detections, which can be very annoying for patients who are further advanced in rehabilitation, can be avoided.
Clients undergoing chorionic villus sampling versus amniocentesis: contrasting attitudes toward pregnancy.

We analyzed interview data from 44 primarily white, middle-class women who had used the prenatal diagnostic technique of chorionic villus sampling (CVS: n = 24) or amniocentesis (n = 20). CVS provides earlier results but carries a somewhat higher risk of miscarriage. Amniocentesis clients were highly committed to the pregnancy and expressed considerable anxiety over the possibility of having to terminate it should an abnormality be diagnosed. CVS clients seemed less bonded to the fetus and less concerned about losing a pregnancy several termed "replaceable. " Thus, with its first-trimester abortion decision, CVS redefines prenatal diagnostic issues for women.
Changes in the dissolution of tolbutamide by a traditional Chinese medicine, Sho-saiko-to (Xiao Chaihu Tang).

Dissolution rate is considered an important factor affecting absorption and efficacy after the oral administration of tolbutamide. Since in many cases traditional Chinese medicines, including Sho-saiko-to (TJ-9, Xiao Chaihu Tang), are taken with other drugs, it is likely that the dissolution and absorption of concomitant drugs in the gastrointestinal tract are influenced by the presence of traditional Chinese medicines. In this study, the effects of TJ-9 on the in vitro dissolution of tolbutamide were examined. We carried out the dissolution test of tolbutamide in the absence or presence of traditional Chinese medicines (Kakkon-to, TJ-1; Hachimi-jio-gan, TJ-7; Chorei-to, TJ-40; Shakuyaku-kanzo-to, TJ-68; TJ-9; Glycyrrhizae Radix, GR; glycyrrhizin, GL) by using a pH 1.2 dissolution medium. Tolbutamide was determined by HPLC assay. The moment parameters, ie. , mean dissolution time (MDT), and the dissolution rate constant up to 20 min (kd) were estimated from the dissolution profiles on the basis of the first-order kinetics. Preparations containing GR, namely TJ-1, TJ-9 and TJ-68, significantly reduced the kd and increased the MDT of tolbutamide, while TJ-7 and TJ-40 had no effect on the early dissolution profile of tolbutamide. The extent of decrease in the kd in the presence of TJ-1, TJ-9 and TJ-68 was dependent on their GR contents. Similar inhibitory effects on the dissolution rate of tolbutamide were observed when GR alone was added to the test medium. In addition, GL, a major constituent of GR, induced a 50% increase in MDT and a 30% decrease in kd. The above results indicate that Chinese traditional preparations containing GR have an inhibitory effect on the in vitro dissolution of tolbutamide, which is derived from GL in the preparations.
Uniaxial mechanical tension promoted osteogenic differentiation of rat tendon‐derived stem cells (rTDSCs) via the Wnt5a‐RhoA pathway

Chronic tendinopathy is a tendon disorder that is common in athletes and individuals whose tendons are subjected to repetitive strain injuries. The presence of ossification worsened the clinical manifestation of the disorder. The change of tendon loading due to mechanical overload, compression, or disuse have been implicated as the possible etiologies, but the pathological mechanisms of tendinopathy remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that ossification in tendon tissue might be due to the osteogenesis of tendon‐derived stem cells (TDSCs) induced by uniaxial mechanical tension (UMT) which mimics the mechanical loading in tendon. Rat TDSCs (rTDSCs) could be induced to differentiate into osteogenic lineage after treatment with 2% elongation UMT for 3 days as shown by the increased expression Runx2 mRNA and protein, Alpl mRNA, collagen type 1 alpha 1 (Col1a1) mRNA, ALP activity, and ALP cytochemical staining. RhoA, an osteogenesis regulator, was activated in rTDSCs upon UMT stimulation. Blockage of RhoA activity in rTDSCs by C3 toxin or ROCK activity, a downstream target of RhoA, by Y‐27632 inhibited UMT‐induced osteogenesis in rTDSCs. UMT up‐regulated the mRNA expression of Wnt5a but not the other non‐canonical Wnts. The inhibition of Wnt5a expression by siRNA abolished UMT‐induced Runx2 mRNA expression and RhoA activation in rTDSCs and the inhibition of Runx2 expression could be rescued by addition of LPA, a RhoA activator. In conclusion, our results showed that UMT induced osteogenic differentiation of rTDSCs via the Wnt5a‐RhoA pathway, which might contribute to ectopic ossification in tendon tissue due to mechanical loading. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 3133–3142, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A cross‐cluster and cross‐region analysis of fashion brand extensions

To obtain sustainable growth in revenue and market share, many fashion brands deploy category extensions and line extensions. In this paper, we examine how different fashion brands in Europe, North America, and Asia execute their brand extension strategies over different periods. By classifying different fashion brands into four clusters according to different price points and fashion contents, we conduct a cross‐region and cross‐cluster analysis to examine how different fashion brands execute their brand extension strategies. Our analysis is based on publicly available data associated with 48 fashion brands over a 90‐year period. We discuss our findings along with managerial insights.
Glucocorticoids enhance stability of human growth hormone mRNA

We have studied the control of expression of the human growth hormone (hGH) gene introduced into the chromosomes of mouse fibroblasts. Cell lines transformed with the hGH gene expressed low levels of intact hGH mRNA and secreted hGH protein into the medium. Although the level of expression of hGH mRNA was low, the gene remained responsive to induction by glucocorticoid hormones. To localize the sequences responsible for induction and to determine the mechanism by which these cis-acting sequences enhance gene expression, we have constructed a series of fusion genes between the hGH gene and the herpes simplex virus (HSV) thymidine kinase (tk) gene. We have demonstrated that a fusion gene in which hGH cDNA is flanked at its 5' terminus by an HSV tk promoter and is flanked at its 3' terminus by 3' HSV tk DNA remains inducible by glucocorticoids. Our studies indicate that the hGH exons contain sequences which are responsible for glucocorticoid hormone induction. Pulse-chase experiments, in vitro nuclear transcription, and approach to steady-state measurements indicate that the mechanisms responsible for induction of the hGH cDNA fusion gene operate posttranscriptionally to enhance the stability of hGH mRNA. Moreover, this increased stability was associated with an increase in the length of the 3' poly(A) tail on hGH mRNA.
Imaging Nanotherapeutics in Inflamed Vasculature by Intravital Microscopy

Intravital microscopy (IVM) is the application of light microscopy to real time study biology of live animal tissues in intact and physiological conditions with the high spatial and temporal resolution. Advances in imaging systems, genetic animal models and imaging probes, IVM has offered quantitative and dynamic insight into cell biology, immunology, neurobiology and cancer. In this review, we will focus on the targeting of nanotherapeutics to inflamed vasculature. We will introduce the basic concept and principle of IVM and demonstrate that IVM is a powerful tool used to quantitatively determine the molecular mechanisms of interactions between nanotherapeutics and neutrophils or endothelium in living mice. In the future, it is needed to develop new imaging systems and novel imaging contrast agents to better understand molecular mechanisms of tissue processing of nanotherapeutics in vivo.
Laboratory and Field Evaluation of Spinosad Formulation Natular T30 Against Immature Culex Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)

ABSTRACT Spinosad consisting of spinosyn A and D is derived from a naturally occurring, soil-dwelling bacterium, Saccharopolyspora spinosa. Spinosyns are neurotoxins that activate postsynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine and gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors and cause rapid excitation of the insect nervous system and ultimately exhaustion and death of the targets. During the past 30 yr, numerous spinosad-based formulations have been developed and applied to control various arthropod pests of agricultural importance. Natular T-30 is a new slow-release formulation containing 8.33% spinosad for use in mosquito larval control programs. High-level larvicidal activity, as indicated by low LC50 and LC90 levels, was demonstrated against Culex quinquefasciatus Say in the laboratory. Larvicidal efficacy was evaluated in semifield microcosms, field mesocosms, and underground storm drains. Fair performance against larval populations of Culex spp. and other mosquito species was achieved, although low efficacy during the initial few days posttreatment was encountered. This slow-release formulation will play an important role in controlling mosquitoes in persistent breeding sources.
Anesthetic Requirement Is Increased in Redheads

Background:Age and body temperature alter inhalational anesthetic requirement; however, no human genotype is associated with inhalational anesthetic requirement. There is an anecdotal impression that anesthetic requirement is increased in redheads. Furthermore, red hair results from distinct mutations of the melanocortin-1 receptor. Therefore, the authors tested the hypothesis that the requirement for the volatile anesthetic desflurane is greater in natural redheaded than in dark-haired women. Methods:The authors studied healthy women with bright red (n = 10) or dark (n = 10) hair. Blood was sampled for subsequent analyses of melanocortin-1 receptor alleles. Anesthesia was induced with sevoflurane and maintained with desflurane randomly set at an end-tidal concentration between 5.5 and 7.5%. After an equilibration period, a noxious electrical stimulation (100 Hz, 70 mA) was transmitted through bilateral intradermal needles. If the volunteer moved in response to stimulation, desflurane was increased by 0.5%; otherwise, it was decreased by 0.5%. This was continued until volunteers “crossed over” from movement to nonmovement (or vice versa) four times. Individual logistic regression curves were used to determine desflurane requirement (P50). Desflurane requirements in the two groups were compared using Mann–Whitney nonparametric two-sample test; P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:The desflurane requirement in redheads (6.2 vol% [95% CI, 5.9–6.5]) was significantly greater than in dark-haired women (5.2 vol% [4.9–5.5]; P = 0.0004). Nine of 10 redheads were either homozygous or compound heterozygotes for mutations on the melanocortin-1 receptor gene. Conclusions:Red hair seems to be a distinct phenotype linked to anesthetic requirement in humans that can also be traced to a specific genotype.