Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Muscle glycogen supercompensation is enhanced by prior creatine supplementation.

PURPOSE Recently, it was shown that glycogen supercompensation tended (P = 0.06) to be greater if creatine and glycogen were loaded simultaneously. Because the authors suggested that creatine loading increased cell volumes and, therefore, enhanced glycogen supercompensation, we decided to determine whether an enhanced glycogen supercompensation could be realized if the glycogen loading protocol was preceded by a 5-d creatine load. METHODS Twelve men (19-28 yr) performed two standard glycogen loading protocols interspersed with a standard creatine load of 20 g.d(-1) for 5 d. The vastus lateralis muscle was biopsied before and after each loading protocol. RESULTS The initial glycogen loading protocol showed a significant 4% increase (P < 0.05) in muscle glycogen (Delta upward arrow 164 +/- 87 mmol.kg(-1) d.m. ), and no change (P > 0.05) in total muscle creatine. Biopsies pre- and post-creatine loading showed significant increases in total muscle creatine levels in both the left leg (Delta upward arrow 41.1 +/- 31.1 mmol.kg(-1) d.m. ) and the right leg (Delta upward arrow 36.6 +/- 19.8 mmol.kg(-1) d.m. ), with no change in either leg's muscle glycogen content. After the final glycogen loading, a significant 53% increase in muscle glycogen (Delta upward arrow 241 +/- 150 mmol.kg-1 d.m.) was detected. Finally, the postcreatine load total glycogen content (694 +/- 156 mmol.kg(-1) d.m. ) was significantly (P < 0.05) greater than the precreatine load total glycogen content (597 +/- 142 mmol.kg(-1) d.m. ). CONCLUSION It is suggested that a muscle's glycogen loading capacity is influenced by its initial levels of creatine and the accompanying alterations in cell volume.
Measuring the Effect of Sexual Orientation on Income: Evidence of Discrimination?

The effect of nonheterosexuality on individual income is estimated using 1991–1996 General Social Survey data. Other researchers have concluded that homosexuals earn less than similarly qualified workers, in contrast to the popular perception that homosexuals are more affluent than nonhomosexuals. Using improved statistical techniques, this article finds noticeable earnings effects that go in opposite directions across genders. Nonheterosexual men earn 22% less than heterosexual men, and nonheterosexual women earn 30% more than heterosexual women. These findings, viewed together with previous empirical work on this topic, help narrow the field of theories that can explain the sexual‐orientation earnings gaps present in the data.
Apply Yourself: Racial and Ethnic Differences in College Application

Access to higher education begins with a student's decision whether and where to apply to college. This paper examines racial and ethnic differences in college application behavior of high school graduates, using two recent graduation cohorts from Texas. We estimate racial and ethnic differences in the probability of applying to college, controlling for a student's college readiness, high school quality, certainty of college admissions, and high school fixed effects. We then investigate racial and ethnic differences in the choice of where to apply. We enhance the typical model of college matching by considering the social setting and high school feeder patterns of state universities. We find that racial and ethnic gaps in application rates, particularly for Hispanic students, are not explained by differential levels of college readiness, high school quality, or information regarding college admission processes. When applying to college, minorities are influenced by more than just matching their academic ability to the institution, and prefer institutions with a large proportion of same-race students and campuses where same-race students from their high school have been successful in the past.
Does microfinance reduce poverty in Lao PDR

Purpose - – The purpose of this study is to examine whether the village development fund (VDF) program reduces poverty in terms of income and expenditure. Design/methodology/approach - – The authors use cross-sectional data that are collected from 361 households in 15 villages in the rural district of Sukhuma of Champasak province in 2012 and use regression for analysis. Findings - – The estimate of the empirical model that is used for the econometric analysis is based on the model constructed by Coleman (1999). This study finds that VDF program has a positive impact on household income and expenditure but that the impact is statistically insignificant. Research limitations/implications - – The authors conclude that the VDF program has a minimal impact on poverty reduction in the study area. Practical implications - – Policy-maker should be aware that promotion of the VDF program might not reduce poverty in terms of income and expenditure. Social implications - – This finding might have significant impacts on poverty reduction strategy of Lao PDR. Originality/value - – It is the first study to investigate the impact of the VDF program on poverty in Lao PDR.
The biochemical structure and function of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase provide the rationale to interpret the epidemiological results on the risk for infants with Down syndrome

Studies on the structure of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene and the mechanisms by which folate may reduce homocysteine levels in bacteria and in humans have provided a rationale to understand the conflicting epidemiological observations between the studies on the 677C‐T and 1298A‐C MTHFR polymorphic variants, and the risk of having an infant with Down syndrome (DS). However, three of the combined genotypes (CTCC, TTAC, and TTCC) are very infrequent in the human population. In fact, these three rare genotypes were only observed in two of the eight epidemiological studies that analyzed these genotype combinations and the risk of DS. In a study of the Indian population these three genotypes were identified in mothers of DS children but not in control mothers demonstrating a statistically significant increase in the risk of giving birth to DS infants. Conversely, the CTCC and TTAC genotypes were only observed in control mothers and not in mothers of DS infants in the Spanish study, while the TTCC genotype was not observed in any Spanish mother analyzed. These results were not related to the frequency of the T allele, since this was lower in the Indian population (21.4% among case mothers and 12.4% in control mothers) than in the Spanish population (33.9%). At present, several important biological aspects on the Hcy cycle are known, including: (a) the biochemical structure and function of the MTHFR enzyme, (b) the biological basis for the effect of the different 677C‐T and 1298A‐C MTHFR genotype combinations on Hcy levels, (c) that folate is not synthesized by the organism that obtained it from the diet, (d) that TT homozygotes will be at particular risk when their folate status is low because the mutant enzyme requires much higher levels of folate than the physiological one to stabilize the binding of flavin‐adenosine‐dinucleotide (FAD), (e) that the release of flavin is prevented by increasing the levels of folate, and (f) that the cystathionine‐beta‐synthase gene is located on chromosome 21. Together, these facts suggest that destabilization of the Hcy cycle in function of the levels of S‐adenosylmethionine (SAM), may be modified by some embryonic and maternal genotypes, as well as by maternal nutritional status and life style. This may also influence the probability that some embryos survive to birth, but in different way for those with and without trisomy 21, as is discussed in this article. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Recursively separated and weighted histogram equalization for brightness preservation and contrast enhancement

This paper proposes a new histogram equalization method, called RSWHE (recursively separated and weighted histogram equalization), for brightness preservation and image contrast enhancement. The essential idea of RSWHE is to segment an input histogram into two or more sub-histograms recursively, to modify the sub-histograms by means of a weighting process based on a normalized power law function, and to perform histogram equalization on the weighted sub-histograms independently. RSIHE (recursive sub-image histogram equalization) and RMSHE (recursive mean separate histogram equalization) are some methods similar to RSWHE, but they do not carry out the above weighting process. We show that compared to other existent methods, RSWHE preserves the image brightness more accurately and produces images with better contrast enhancement.
Neuropsychological and Behavioral Measures of Attention Assess Different Constructs in Children With Traumatic Brain Injury

Neuropsychological and behavioral measures are used to assess attention, but little convergence has been found between these two assessment methods. However, many prior studies have not considered attention as a multicomponent system, which may contribute to this lack of agreement between neuropsychological and behavioral measures. To address this the current study examined the relationship between the neuropsychological measures that comprise a four-component model of attention and parent-report behavioral ratings of attention problems and hyperactivity. A total of 65 children and adolescents who had sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) were included in the study. Principal components analysis identified the four attention components in this sample, which accounted for 80.9% of the variance. However, correlations between the neuropsychological measures of attention and behavioral ratings of attention and hyperactivity were low and non-significant. This minimal correspondence suggests that neuropsychological and behavioral measures assess different aspects of attentional disturbances in children with TBI.
Subcortical contributions to head movements in macaques. II. Connections of a medial pontomedullary head-movement region.

1. In the companion article, a variety of head movements were elicited by stimulation in, and adjacent to, the gigantocellular reticular nucleus (Cowie and Robinson 1994). We refer to this area, caudal to the abducens nucleus, as the gigantocellular head movement region. In the present paper, the anatomical connections of this region, as determined by injections of wheat-germ agglutinin conjugated horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP), are reported. The majority of efferent and afferent connections were with areas related to head movements. 2. Efferent fibers from the region projected via two paths to the caudal medulla and upper cervical spinal cord. Labeled fibers descended in the anterolateral funiculus of the ipsilateral spinal cord to terminate in lateral parts of the ventral horn. A second pathway descended bilaterally in the medial longitudinal fasciculus to the anterior funiculi and medial portions of the ventral gray. These efferents paralleled the head-movement topography demonstrated physiologically. Other projections included efferents to the interstitial nucleus of Cajal, caudal field H of Forel, paramedian pontine reticular formation, and caudal vestibular nuclei. Other efferent fibers projected to the trigeminal, facial, and hypoglossal nuclei, as well as to the parvocellular reticular field, which contains interneurons for these motor groups. However, no efferent or afferent labeling involved the ocular motor nuclei. 3. Afferents to the gigantocellular head movement region arose mainly from head-movement areas. In all animals, labeled cells were found in the intermediate and deep layers of the caudal superior colliculus. Labeled neurons also were found in the caudal field H of Forel, interstitial nucleus of Cajal, pontine medial tegmentum including the pontine paramedian reticular formation, nucleus subcoeruleus, and vestibular nuclear complex. Caudally, filled cells were located in the parvocellular, magnocellular, dorsal, and ventral reticular nuclei, the supraspinal nucleus, and the upper cervical ventral horn. 4. In one animal, the ipsilateral frontal cortex contained retrogradely labeled neurons. These cells were found in layer V of cortical areas 4 and 6. Other afferent cells were found consistently in the periventricular and periaqueductal gray matter. 5. A control injection into the caudal vestibular nuclear complex showed projections to the gigantocellular reticular formation and labeled cells in the vestibular and parvocellular reticular nuclei. These observations show that the connections of the gigantocellular region are not typical of all head movement sites. 6. These data indicate that the gigantocellular head-movement region has the requisite efferent and afferent connections to function in the subcortical control of head, but not eye, movements. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Understanding the Thoughts and Attitudes Related to Participation in Youth Sports

The present study was designed to examine the thinking and attitudes that may be associated with elementary and middle school students participating in youth sports. Girls benefit physically, socially, and educationally from ongoing participation in sports. However, compared to boys, girls tend to start later, quit sooner, and participate less often in sports, despite the numerous advantages that athletics provides. The external barriers that contribute to girls’ decreased involvement in sports as they increase in age and grade are well researched. However, there is a lack of information about the possible cognitive variables related to a girls’ decision to play sports. Therefore, the present study investigated how self-perceptions and dysfunctional attitudes were associated with students’ enjoyment and degree of participation in sports. It was hypothesized that girls’ self-perceived competency would be related to their likelihood to enjoy and continue playing sports. The aim of the study was to increase understanding about how thinking and attitudes may be related to young students’ playing sports, particularly among girls, and provide insight into how to effectively sustain athletic participation. The present study focused on English-speaking students enrolled in elementary and middle schools in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The study included girls and boys in second through eighth grades and used standardized questionnaires. This survey research required students to complete the Self-Perception Profile for Children, Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale for Children, and questionnaires inquiring about sports participation and demographic information.
Small sample evidence on the tourism-led growth hypothesis in Lebanon

This paper investigates the contribution of tourism to economic growth in Lebanon for the time period of 1995–2010. The presence of long-run and causal relationships is investigated applying the bounds testing approach to cointegration and Granger causality tests. Because of the small sample (T = 16), econometric approaches and critical values used for testing receive special attention. Additionally, a number of diagnostic tests are utilised to ensure that the model is suitable and correct. Interestingly, our results reveal that tourism and economic growth are cointegrated. The Granger causality test indicates that the tourism-led growth hypothesis is valid for Lebanon. Therefore, policy initiatives promoting tourism ought to be further developed and implemented to stimulate economic growth and development for the economy of Lebanon.
Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α (HIF-1α) Is Required for Neural Stem Cell Maintenance and Vascular Stability in the Adult Mouse SVZ

HIF-1α is a hypoxia-inducible protein that regulates many cell and molecular processes, including those involved in angiogenesis and stem cell maintenance. Prior studies demonstrated constitutive HIF-1α stabilization in neural stem cells (NSCs) of the adult mouse SVZ, but its role there has not been elucidated. Here, we tested the hypothesis that HIF-1α plays an essential role in the maintenance of adult NSCs and stabilization of the SVZ vascular niche using conditional, tamoxifen-inducible Hif1a knock-out mice. We generated nestin-CreERT2/R26R-YFP/Hif1afl/fl triple transgenic mice, to enable tamoxifen-inducible Hif1a gene inactivation in nestin-expressing NSCs within the adult SVZ. Hif1a gene deletion resulted in a significant loss of YFP+ NSCs within the SVZ by 45 d post recombination, which was preceded by significant regression of the SVZ vasculature at 14 d, and concomitant decrease of VEGF expression by NSCs. Loss of YFP+ NSCs following Hif1a gene inactivation in vivo was likely an indirect consequence of vascular regression, since YFP+ neurosphere formation over serial passage was unaffected. These results identify NSC-encoded HIF-1α as an essential factor in the maintenance of the adult SVZ, and demonstrate that NSCs within the SVZ maintain the integrity of their vascular niche through HIF-1α-mediated signaling mechanisms.
Introduction: Exchange Rates, Capital Flows, and Commercial Policies in Transition Economies

Abstract Exchange rate movements in all transition economies have followed a similar time path, with a sharp depreciation followed by gradual real appreciation. Such a time path is rather surprising given the differences in monetary and real shocks that these countries have encountered. This introduction and this symposium examine critically whether this time path of the exchange rates can be viewed as a gradual approach to these countries' equilibrium exchange rates and whether we can deduce these equilibrium exchange rates from purchasing power parity exchange rates computed for these countries. J. Comp. Econom. , December 1998, 26(4), pp. 613–620. Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287-3806
Iatrogenic Hyperadrenocorticism in a Cat following a Short Therapeutic Course of Methylprednisolone Acetate

Iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism (or iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome) is an adrenal disorder that may result from long-term administration of glucocorticoids for therapeutic purposes, most often given to treat allergic or immune-mediated disorders. Prolonged treatment with synthetic glucocorticoids can suppress hypothalamic corticotrophin releasing hormone and plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), thus causing a functional inactivity of the adrenal cortex. The result is a clinical syndrome of hyperadrenocorticism but with basal and ACTH-stimulated plasma cortisol concentrations that are consistent with spontaneous hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease). Whilst iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism is relatively frequent in dogs, the diagnosis of iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism in cats is very uncommon because this species has been found to be remarkably resistant to prolonged administration of glucocorticoids. To the author's knowledge, there are only two published clinical cases of feline iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome. This report describes a case of iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism in a cat, and shows how normalisation of the adrenal function was achieved with supportive treatment and withdrawal of glucocorticoid administration.
Establishing ex ante public construction supply chain guidelines in the public procurement of schools' estate

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to explore the formative development of construction supply chain guidelines or proposals in a UK region's schools' estates procurement process to more effectively address a forthcoming increase in investment.Design/methodology/approach – The research approach is interpretive. Using an action research approach, repeated semi‐structured interviews and focus groups with a range of stakeholders are conducted.Findings – The current construction supply chain in schools' estate procurement has many difficulties, not least given the highly fragmented and disconnected nature of the projects. Synergies are being missed and there is little or no continuous improvement. Drawing on these findings, the research iteratively develops a range of proposals and guidelines to address this situation.Research limitations/implications – This research adds weight to the current focus on pressing for change in the construction industry. It presents potentially valuable insights into the ben.
Foreign Capital Dependence and Development: A New Direction

Scholars have long debated the impact of foreign investment on the economies of less developed countries. Many argue that foreign investment is beneficial for the host economy; others argue, just as forcefully, that dependence on foreign capital is detrimental. This study offers a new conceptualization of foreign capital dependence that may resolve this debate: foreign investment concentration, which is the proportion of a host country's foreign direct investment stocks owned by the single largest investing country. The theory is that high investment concentration limits the autonomy of state and business elites to act in the long-term interests of domestic growth. In a series of cross-national panel regression models of 39 less developed countries estimated at five-year intervals from 1970 to 1995, the often cited negative effects of foreign capital penetration on growth in GNP per capita are dramatically reduced or entirely replaced when investment concentration, and the related concepts of export commodity and trade partner concentrations, are included in the analyses. Foreign investment concentration has a significant, long-term negative effect on growth that is strongest over the initial five-year period and decreases over the next 15 years. A similar effect is also found for the 1990–1997 period. This structural aspect of capital dependence has a greater impact on development than does the overall level of foreign capital penetration.
Microdeletions in 9p21.3 induce false negative results in CDKN2A FISH analysis of Ewing sarcoma

Deletion of the CDKN2A locus at 9p21.3 has been reported to be a poor prognostic sign in the Ewing sarcoma family of tumours. In clinical applications CDKN2A deletion is primarily detected using fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) with a commercial probe, size ∼190 kb. Due to limitations in resolution, FISH analysis may fail to detect microdeletions smaller than 190 kb. In the present study, we performed 44K array comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) on eleven Ewing sarcoma cell lines and 26 tissue samples in order to define the sizes of 9p21.3 deletions. Microarray CGH analysis revealed 9p21.3 deletions encompassing the CDKN2A locus in eight cell lines (73%) and in six tumours (23%). In four cases (two cell lines and two tissue samples) the deletion was less than 190 kb in size. In one cell line sample, we detected a microdeletion of ∼58 kb in 9p21.3 harbouring the CDKN2A locus. We confirmed this result using 244K microarray CGH and TaqMan quantitative RT-PCR analysis and further performed FISH analysis on this cell line sample. Here, we show that CDKN2A FISH analysis can give false negative results in cases with small microdeletions. Our results suggest that new and more accurate FISH methods should be developed for detection of deletions in the CDKN2A locus.
Green organizational identity: sources and consequence

Purpose – This study aims to develop an original framework of green organizational identity to explore the positive effects of environmental organizational culture and environmental leadership on green competitive advantage through the partial mediator – green organizational identity.Design/methodology/approach – This study proposes an original concept – green organizational identity – to develop an integral framework to enhance green competitive advantage. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is applied to verify the research framework.Findings – The results showed that environmental organizational culture and environmental leadership are positively associated with green organizational identity and green competitive advantage. Green organizational identity had a partial mediation effect on the positive relationships between two antecedents – environmental organizational culture and environmental leadership – and green competitive advantage. Companies should enhance their environmental organizational cultur.