Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimized dietary strategies to protect skeletal muscle mass during periods of unavoidable energy deficit

Interactions between dietary protein and energy balance on the regulation of human skeletal muscle protein turnover are not well described. A dietary protein intake above the recommended dietary allowance during energy balance typically enhances nitrogen retention and up‐regulates muscle protein synthesis, which in turn may promote positive protein balance and skeletal muscle accretion. Recent studies show that during energy deficit, muscle protein synthesis is down‐regulated with concomitant increases in ubiquitin proteasome‐mediated muscle proteolysis and nitrogen excretion, reflecting the loss of skeletal muscle mass. However, consuming high‐protein diets (1.6‐2.4 g/kg per day), or high‐quality, protein‐based meals (15‐30 g whey) during energy deficit attenuates intracellular proteolysis, restores muscle protein synthesis, and mitigates skeletal muscle loss. These findings are particularly important for physically active, normal‐weight individuals because attenuating the extent to which skeletal muscle mass is lost during energy deficit could prevent decrements in performance, reduce injury risk, and facilitate recovery. This article reviews the relationship between energy status, protein intake, and muscle protein turnover, and explores future research directives designed to protect skeletal muscle mass in physically active, normal‐weight adults. —Pasiakos, S. M. , Margolis, L. M. , and Orr, J. S. Optimized dietary strategies to protect skeletal muscle mass during periods of unavoidable energy deficit. FASEB J. 29, 1136‐1142 (2015). www.fasebj. org
The Relation between Computerized and Paper-and-Pencil Mental Rotation Tasks: A Validation Study

The present study aimed at validating a computerized mental rotation task developed for use in functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) studies. Eighty-three females and 74 males completed the computerized task, two pencil-and-paper tests of mental rotation, and reported their high school grades in mathematics, English, and history. The computerized task involved the presentation of pairs of three-dimensional stimuli that differed in orientation by 0, 40, 80, 120, or 160 degrees. Results showed significant gender differences in favor of males in the three main tasks, although gender interacted with angle of rotation in the computerized task. Evidence for concurrent validity was obtained in the form of significant correlations between performance on tasks relevant to mental rotation (paper and pencil tests and mathematics grades), whereas discriminant validity was demonstrated by a lack of correlation with tasks deemed irrelevant to mental rotation (English and history grades). These findings support the use of our computerized mental rotation task as a valid measure of mental rotation abilities in fMRI studies. This study was funded by a National Institute of Health grant (J. Imperato-McGinley, Principal Investigator). The authors are thankful to Mariana Soraggi for her assistance with data collection and scoring. We are also indebted to Michael Peters for providing the three-dimensional drawing used in the computerized task.
Gastric antiulcer, antisecretory and cytoprotective properties of celery (Apium graveolens) in rats

In the present investigation, an ethanol extract of celery [Apium graveolens L. (Apiaceae/Umbelliferae)], at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight, was evaluated for antigastric ulcer activity using various experimental gastric ulcer models in rats. Ulcers were induced by indomethacin, cytodestructive agents (80% ethanol, 0.2 M NaOH and 25% NaCl) and cold restraint stress. Gastric secretory studies were undertaken by using pylorus ligation (Shay rat model). In addition to gastric wall mucus (GWM), non-protein sulfhydryl (NP-SH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also estimated in gastric tissues after 80% ethanol treatment. Pretreatment of celery extract produced dose-dependent reduction in all experimentally induced gastric lesions. Ethanol (80%) decreased the levels of GWM, NP-SH and increase in MDA concentration in gastric tissue. Celery extract showed the ability to significantly replenish the ethanol-induced depleted levels of GWM and gastric mucosal NP-SH. The gastric mucosal MDA level was also significantly lowered in extract pretreated rats. The celery extract showed stomach protection against the models used for ulcerogenesis. Results were further confirmed by using histopathological assessment. The phytochemical screening showed the presence of various chemical constituents such as flavonoids, tannins, volatile oils, alkaloids, sterols and/or triterpenes. Acute toxicity test revealed no deleterious or toxic symptoms or mortality over a period of 14 days. However, the LD50 was found to be 7.55 g/kg, and showed a large margin of safety. The results suggest that Apium graveolens extract significantly protects the gastric mucosa and suppresses the basal gastric secretion in rats, possibly through its antioxidant potential.
Fermentative butanol production by clostridia

Butanol is an aliphatic saturated alcohol having the molecular formula of C4H9OH. Butanol can be used as an intermediate in chemical synthesis and as a solvent for a wide variety of chemical and textile industry applications. Moreover, butanol has been considered as a potential fuel or fuel additive. Biological production of butanol (with acetone and ethanol) was one of the largest industrial fermentation processes early in the 20th century. However, fermentative production of butanol had lost its competitiveness by 1960s due to increasing substrate costs and the advent of more efficient petrochemical processes. Recently, increasing demand for the use of renewable resources as feedstock for the production of chemicals combined with advances in biotechnology through omics, systems biology, metabolic engineering and innovative process developments is generating a renewed interest in fermentative butanol production. This article reviews biotechnological production of butanol by clostridia and some relevant fermentation and downstream processes. The strategies for strain improvement by metabolic engineering and further requirements to make fermentative butanol production a successful industrial process are also discussed. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 209–228. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dual oxidases

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have an important role in various physiological processes including host defence, mitogenesis, hormone biosynthesis, apoptosis and fertilization. Currently, the most characterized ROS-producing system operates in phagocytic cells, where ROS generated during phagocytosis act in host defence. Recently, several novel homologues of the phagocytic oxidase have been discovered and this protein family is now designated as the NOX/DUOX family of NADPH oxidases. NOX/DUOX enzymes function in a variety of tissues, including colon, kidney, thyroid gland, testis, salivary glands, airways and lymphoid organs. Importantly, members of the enzyme family are also found in non-mammalian species, including Caenorhabditis elegans and sea urchin. The physiological functions of novel NADPH oxidase enzymes are currently largely unknown. This review focuses on our current knowledge about dual oxidases.
A 2- to 7-year follow-up study of 54 obsessive-compulsive children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE Due to the generally poor prognosis previously reported for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), this report systematically assessed the outcome of patients who had had access to new psychopharmacologic treatments to determine whether there had been any long-term gains and if there were any predictors of outcome. DESIGN Prospective follow-up study of a cohort of consecutive pediatric patients with OCD who had participated in controlled treatment (clomipramine hydrochloride) trials and then received a variety of interim treatments. PATIENTS Fifty-four children and adolescents were reevaluated 2 to 7 years (mean, 3.4 +/- 1.0 years) after initial clomipramine treatment. Information for 48 (89%) of the patients was from direct interview and for the remaining six (11%) from at least two sources. RESULTS On follow-up, 23 of the subjects (43%) still met diagnostic criteria for OCD, and only three (6%) could be considered in true remission. Thirty-eight subjects (70%) were taking psychoactive medication at the time of follow-up. Although OCD symptoms continued, the group as a whole was significantly improved at follow-up, with only 10 subjects (19%) rated as unchanged or worse. A worse OCD outcome score at follow-up was predicted in a stepwise multiple regression by (1) more severe OCD symptoms score after 5 weeks of clomipramine therapy, (2) lifetime history of a tic disorder, and (3) presence of parental Axis I psychiatric diagnosis (R2 = .31, P < .01). CONCLUSIONS With new treatments available, most patients with pediatric OCD can expect significant longterm improvements but not complete remission. This study supports previous reports of the chronicity and intractability of the disorder, as there still remained a significant subgroup of subjects who exhibited continued morbidity despite multiple interventions.
An Overview of QT Interval Assessment in Safety Pharmacology

Medicinal products that prolong cardiac repolarization unintentionally, as assessed in terms of prolongation of the QT interval of the electrocardiogram, may trigger a potentially fatal arrhythmia called torsade de pointe (TDP). This lethal risk necessitates a detailed preclinical evaluation before initiating clinical trials. There are two different and complementary approaches to assess the potential of drugs to cause QT interval prolongation. The in vivo approach provides information on the potential of the compound to prolong the QT interval under near‐physiological conditions. It is mostly descriptive and not explanatory in terms of mechanisms of action. The in vitro approach provides much more mechanistic information, but is far removed from the clinical situation. While both approaches appear to possess reasonable predictive value, the results may depend largely on the experimental conditions employed. This unit reviews these issues and discusses a strategy aimed at understanding the problems associated with this cardiovascular risk.
The topographic organization of associational fibers of the olfactory system in the rat, including centrifugal fibers to the olfactory bulb

This study analyzed the topographic organization of the associational fibers within the olfactory cortex of the rat, by using the autoradiographic method. Small injections of 3H‐leucine were placd in all of the subdivisions of the olfactory cortex, to label selectively the fibers arising in each area. Intracortical fibers were identified from all of the olfactory cortical areas except the olfactory tubercle and were classified into two major systems (the layer Ib system and the layer II‐deep Ib system) on the basis of their laminar pattern of termination (see Luskin and Price, 1983).
Prostanoids, not reactive oxygen species, mediate COX‐2–dependent neurotoxicity

The prostaglandin synthesizing enzyme cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) has emerged as a critical pathogenic factor in brain diseases associated with activation of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors, including stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. However, the COX‐2 reaction products responsible for these deleterious effects have not been identified. In particular, the relative contribution to the neurotoxicity of COX‐2–derived prostanoids and reactive oxygen species has not been defined. We found that the brain damage produced by direct injection of NMDA into the somatosensory cortex is attenuated by the COX‐2 inhibitor NS‐398 or in COX‐2–null mice, but that the associated production of free radicals is not. Furthermore, COX‐2 inhibition reduces the lesions even if the deleterious effects of free radicals are eliminated by the scavenger superoxide dismutase. The protection exerted by NS‐398 is counteracted by a stable analog of prostaglandin E2. The findings directly implicate COX‐2–derived prostanoids, rather then radicals, in the COX‐2–dependent component of the damage mediated by NMDA receptors and strengthen the rationale for using COX‐2 inhibitors in the treatment of neurological diseases associated with glutamate neurotoxicity. Ann Neurol 2004
Antifungal Activity of Tetrasulfanes against Botrytis cinerea

Various natural polysulfanes (RSxR’, x ≥ 3, R ≠ H), such as diallyltrisulfide and diallyltetrasulfide from garlic, are mostly harmless to humans, higher animals and plants, yet highly active against diverse microbes, including several fungi. Such natural organic sulfur compounds (OSCs) possess considerable practical potential against a wide range of agricultural pests. Unfortunately, their use is often hampered due to the inherently offensive smell, chemical instability and low water solubility. However, since the biological activity of polysulfanes is primarily based on their unique sulfur-sulfur motif, it is possible to preserve this motif and to modify the side-chain(s). Ultimately, such changes result in synthetic polysulfanes which retain or even exceed the activity of their natural analogues, and also show improved physico-chemical properties. The resulting acid-, ether- and ester-based tetrasulfanes synthesized as part of this study are odorless and highly active against the grey mold fungus Botrytis cinerea. Some, but not all, of the synthetic polysulfanes are recognized by an active fungal efflux mechanism mediated by the ABC transporter AtrB. Remarkably, some of them even induce transcription of the AtrB-encoding gene, mediated by transcription factor Mrr1. Taken together, the activity of synthetic polysulfanes against B. cinerea, combined with a likely low ecotoxicity of such sulfur compounds, bodes well for possible future applications against this and eventually other agronomically important plant pathogens.
Improved Quality of Life, Clinical, and Psychosocial Outcomes Among Heroin-dependent Patients on Ambulatory Buprenorphine Maintenance

Aim: A prospective longitudinal design was employed to examine the effects of buprenorphine maintenance on quality of life (QOL), clinical, and psychosocial characteristics of heroin-dependent patients. Method: Between 2003 and 2005 data were collected on 259 patients attending the outpatient centers for treatment of drug addictions across Israel, of which 157 were reevaluated 16 weeks later and 105 reevaluated 32 weeks later using the Clinical Global Impression, Distress Scale for Adverse Symptoms, Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to examine the association between the parameters and the cross-sectional and longitudinal predictions of the QOL outcomes. Results: The groups did not differ in baseline values and their post-treatment ratings revealed significant improvement on virtually all the scales. Perceived self-efficacy and social support from friends and significant others at baseline as well as their changes over time were the best predictors of the QOL in the short and long terms. The study's limitations are noted. Conclusions: The beneficial effects on the QOL were associated with improvement in the psychosocial parameters and a reduction in buprenorphine-related side effects and psychological distress. This study could stimulate research to compare the QOL related to buprenorphine and methadone treatment and serve as a basis on which a controlled study should be performed.
Replicase activity of purified recombinant protein P2 of double‐stranded RNA bacteriophage φ6

In nature, synthesis of both minus‐ and plus‐sense RNA strands of all the known double‐stranded RNA viruses occurs in the interior of a large protein assembly referred to as the polymerase complex. In addition to other proteins, the complex contains a putative polymerase possessing characteristic sequence motifs. However, none of the previous studies has shown template‐dependent RNA synthesis directly with an isolated putative polymerase protein. In this report, recombinant protein P2 of double‐stranded RNA bacteriophage φ6 was purified and demonstrated in an in vitro enzymatic assay to act as the replicase. The enzyme efficiently utilizes phage‐specific, positive‐sense RNA substrates to produce double‐stranded RNA molecules, which are formed by newly synthesized, full‐length minus‐strands base paired with the plus‐strand templates. P2‐catalyzed replication is also shown to be very effective with a broad range of heterologous single‐stranded RNA templates. The importance and implications of these results are discussed.
Performance analysis of FPGA based Sobel edge detection operator

Edge detection operation is an essential part in the field of image processing. There are few ways to improve the performance of edge detection. This paper proposes a FPGA-based approach Sobel edge detection. An image is captured by a CMOS camera and converted into RGB color space and the image is converted into grayscale to obtain image intensity for edge detection. The proposed Sobel edge detection operator is model using of Finite State Machine (FSM) which executes a matrix area gradient operation to determine the level of variance through different of pixels and display the result on a monitor. The whole process is performed in the hardware level that utilizes the resources of FPGA board. The result shows good performance of edge detection with 27 MHz clock operation.
Association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and serum total cholesterol with depressive symptoms in Korean adults: the Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V, 2010–2012)

Abstract Objective To examine the hypothesis that the association between vitamin D deficiency and depressive symptoms is dependent upon total cholesterol level in a representative national sample of the South Korean population. Design This was a population-based cross-sectional study. Setting The Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V, 2010–2012). Subjects We included 7198 adults aged 20–88 years. Results The incidence of depressive symptoms in individuals with vitamin D deficiency (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D<20 ng/ml) was 1·54-fold (95 % CI 1·20, 1·98) greater than in individuals without vitamin D deficiency (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D ≥20 ng/ml). The relationship was stronger in individuals with normal-to-borderline serum total cholesterol (serum total cholesterol<240 mg/dl; OR=1·60; 95 % CI 1·23, 2·08) and non-significant in individuals with high serum total cholesterol (OR=0·97; 95 % CI 0·52, 1·81) after adjustment for confounding variables (age, sex, BMI, alcohol consumption, smoking status, regular exercise, income level, education level, marital status, changes in body weight, perceived body shape, season of examination date and cholesterol profiles). Conclusions The association between vitamin D deficiency and depressive symptoms was weakened by high serum total cholesterol status. These findings suggest that both vitamin D and total cholesterol are important targets for the prevention and treatment of depression.
Home Bias in Bank Sovereign Bond Purchases and the Bank-Sovereign Nexus

We study whether a pre-existing link between bank and sovereign credit risk biased euro-area banks' sovereign debt portfolio choices at the turn of 2011-12, a period of exceptional increases in their domestic sovereign bond holdings. When bank and sovereign creditworthiness are correlated and sovereign credit risk is elevated, incentives to "shift risk" may render domestic sovereign bonds more attractive than other liquid assets. By investing in domestic government bonds, banks can earn the full risk premium while the risk itself is largely borne by their creditors, as it materializes in states of the world where the banks are likely to be insolvent anyway. Using a bank-level data set, we find evidence that this mechanism can explain a significant part of the purchases of domestic sovereign bonds in the final quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012.
The Price of Abstraction

Behavioral law and economics’ effort to replace standard microeconomic assumptions with more realistic, yet still simple assumptions—without jettisoning a basic economic orientation toward behavior that emphasizes prices and utility maximization—has led to the acceptance of an oversimplified view of human judgment and decision-making. Supposedly descriptive claims found in Behavioral Law and Economics often ignore heterogeneity in results and interactions among variables, emphasize the existence of effects over the size of effects and their practical significance, avoid open questions about external validity, and embrace vague labels rather than delve into the multiple psychological processes and other non-psychological factors that may cause or account for behavior. The price of this abstraction is a lack of predictive and explanatory validity and an inability to provide reliable policy guidance.
A simple global asymptotic convergent observer for uncertain mechanical systems

A simple nonlinear observer is proposed for a class of uncertain nonlinear multiple-input–multiple-output mechanical systems whose dynamics are first-order differentiable. The proposed observer is constructed without any detailed model knowledge of the system and the observer gains are easily chosen. Another interesting features of the proposed observer include that it is more immune to noise and is high robust against parameters variations, and thus it is readily implemented. Lyapunov's direct method is employed to prove global asymptotic convergent observation. Extensive simulations are presented to illustrate the effectiveness and improved performance of the proposed observer.
Recovery of antioxidants and reduction in lipid hydroperoxides in murine epidermis and dermis after acute ultraviolet radiation exposure.

In previous studies we have found that a single acute dose of ultraviolet radiation to murine skin causes a large degree of destruction of enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants immediately after irradiation. In the present study, we wished to elucidate the recovery of antioxidants after a single dose of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. We measured antioxidants and lipid hydroperoxides (as a marker of membrane damage) in murine epidermis and the dermis at 0, 3, 12, 24, 72 and 120 h after exposure to UV radiation (25 J/cm2, UVA+UVB). Lipid hydroperoxides showed the highest values immediately after UV exposure and returned to control values within 24 h in both epidermis and dermis. The activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase showed the lowest activities immediately after UV exposure; superoxide dismutase activities reached a minimum at 3 h postexposure. The pattern of recovery was different for each enzyme and for epidermis and dermis. The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase decreased remarkably and recovered slowly. Superoxide dismutase in the dermis recovered full activity by 120 h and in the epidermis by 12 h. Catalase activity in both epidermis and dermis had returned to only 50% of control activity at 120 h, although the epidermis showed a temporary increase (to 93%) at 24 h. Glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were slightly decreased immediately after irradiation, recovered to 100% at 3 h and then increased to 200-250% in both the epidermis and the dermis at various times; values had returned to 100% in epidermis by 120 h but remained elevated in dermis. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)