Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of graded exercise on IL‐6 release and glucose uptake in human skeletal muscle

In this study, the hypothesis that the release of interleukin (IL)‐6 from human muscle is linked to exercise intensity and muscle glucose uptake was investigated. In the overnight fasted state, seven healthy males performed knee extension exercise, kicking with both legs, each at 25 % of maximal power (Wmax) for 45 min (eliciting 23 ± 1 % of pulmonary maximal oxygen uptake, V̇O2,max) and then simultaneously with one leg at 65 % and the other leg at 85 % Wmax for 35 min (40 ± 1 % of pulmonary V̇O2,max). Blood was sampled from a femoral artery and both femoral veins, and blood flow was determined by thermodilution. Thigh plasma flow (0.15 ± 0.01, 1.4 ± 0.2, 2.0 ± 0.1 and 2.3 ± 0.2 l min−1 thigh−1 at rest and 25 %, 65 % and 85 % Wmax, respectively) and thigh oxygen uptake (0.02 ± 0.01, 0.27 ± 0.03, 0.48 ± 0.04 and 0.55 ± 0.05 l min−1 thigh−1 at rest and 25 %, 65 % and 85 % Wmax, respectively) increased with increasing exercise intensity (P < 0.05). Also, thigh IL‐6 release (0.4 ± 0.1, 1.3 ± 0.5, 1.5 ± 0.6 and 2.5 ± 0.7 ng min−1 thigh−1 at rest and 25 %, 65 % and 85 % Wmax, respectively) and thigh glucose uptake (0.05 ± 0.01, 0.3 ± 0.05, 0.75 ± 0.16, 1.07 ± 0.15 mmol min−1 thigh−1 at rest and 25 %, 65 % and 85 % Wmax, respectively) increased with increasing exercise intensity (P < 0.05). During the last 35 min of exercise, arterial catecholamine concentrations were higher (P < 0.05) than at rest and during low‐intensity exercise. During exercise, thigh IL‐6 release was positively related to both thigh glucose uptake (P < 0.001) and thigh glucose delivery (P < 0.005), but not to thigh glucose extraction. Thigh IL‐6 release was also positively related to arterial plasma adrenaline concentration. The pre‐exercise muscle glycogen concentration tended to correlate with the arteriovenous IL‐6 concentration difference at rest, and the postexercise glycogen concentration was inversely correlated with IL‐6 release during the final 35 min of exercise. In conclusion, the study indicates that IL‐6 release from human muscle is positively related to exercise intensity, arterial adrenaline concentration and muscle glucose uptake. This supports the hypothesis that IL‐6 may be linked to the regulation of glucose homeostasis during exercise. The observation of a relationship between IL‐6 release and muscle glycogen store both at rest and after exercise suggests that IL‐6 may act as a carbohydrate sensor.
Transactive memory system and TQM: exploring knowledge capacities

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study how transactive memory systems (TMS) facilitate the transfer and absorption of knowledge in the presence of quality management (QM) within a university research and development (R&D) environment.Design/methodology/approach – The data come from a simple random sampling of 257 Spanish university R&D groups in nine different areas of knowledge. To verify the hypotheses, the authors used multiple linear regression analysis with a moderating effect.Findings – The conclusions show that the relationship between knowledge transfer (KT) and TMS is significant when QM practices are included as a moderating variable but that this is not the case for knowledge absorption (KA), which does not show any effect.Research limitations/implications – The effects described were found in a sample composed of various R&D sectors taken from a single country and not distributed equally. Further, the perception analyzed represents the judgment of a single manager.Practical implicatio.
Screening for distress, the sixth vital sign: examining self‐referral in people with cancer over a one‐year period

Although research has indicated a diagnosis of cancer is most often distressing for patients and their families, few studies have examined which patients access resources to manage distress or how distress levels affect resource utilization. This study explored psychosocial and supportive care resource utilization in a large cancer population at a Canadian tertiary cancer centre over a 12‐month period in a usual care setting.
Social support adequacy and depression in older patients with metastatic cancer

Although the highest proportion of cancer patients are over 55 years, the psychosocial aspects of cancer in this age group has received little systematic attention. Many older patients who report psychological distress, especially depressive symptoms, also report a perception of inadequate social support. The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived adequacy of social support and depression in a group of older patients with metastatic cancer. The association of social support network variables (e.g. number in household, etc.) with depression was also evaluated. A second study aim was to evaluate the reliability and validity of a measure of social support adequacy, that had been originally developed with college students, for its usefulness with a cancer population. The measure of perceived adequacy of social support used in this study was found to be a reliable and valid measure with older cancer patients. Total perceived adequacy and each of three subtypes (significant other, family and friends) were significantly associated with lower levels of depression. In a multiple regression procedure, both perceived adequacy and network characteristics were significantly associated with less depression. These findings suggest that older cancer patients who are depressed may be good candidates for psychosocial interventions aimed at improving social support and subsequently quality of life.
Heterogeneous chloride homeostasis and GABA responses in the median preoptic nucleus of the rat

The median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) is an integrative structure of the hypothalamus receiving periphery‐derived information pertinent to hydromineral and cardiovascular homeostasis. In this context, excitability of MnPO neurones is controlled by fast GABAergic, glutamatergic and angiotensinergic projection from the subfornical organ (SFO). Taking advantage of a brain slice preparation preserving synaptic connection between the SFO and the MnPO, and appropriate bicarbonate‐free artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), we investigated a possible implication of an active outward Cl− transport in regulating efficacy of the GABAA receptor‐mediated inhibitory response at the SFO–MnPO synapse. When somata of the MnPO neurones was loaded with 18 mm chloride, stimulation of the SFO evoked outward inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) in 81% of the MnPO neurones held at −60 mV. Accordingly, EIPSC was found 25 mV hyperpolarized from the theoretical value calculated from the Nernst equation, indicating that IPSC polarity and amplitude were driven by an active Cl− extrusion system in these neurones. EIPSC estimated with gramicidin‐based perforated‐patch recordings amounted −89.2 ± 4.3 mV. Furosemide (100 μm), a pharmacological compound known to block the activity of the neurone‐specific K+–Cl− cotransporter, KCC2, reversed IPSC polarity and shifted EIPSC towards its theoretical value. Presence of the KCC2 protein in the MnPO was further detected with immunohistochemistry, revealing a dense network of KCC2‐positive intermingled fibres. In the presence of a GABAB receptor antagonist, high‐frequency stimulation (5 Hz) of the SFO evoked a train of IPSCs or inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs), whose amplitude was maintained throughout the sustained stimulation. Contrastingly, similar 5 Hz stimulation carried out in the presence of furosemide (50 μm) evoked IPSCs/IPSPs, whose amplitude collapsed during the high‐frequency stimulation. Similar reduction in inhibitory neurotransmission was also observed in MnPO neurones lacking the functional Cl− extrusion mechanism. We conclude that a majority of MnPO neurones were characterized by a functional Cl− transporter that ensured an efficient activity‐dependent Cl− transport rate, allowing sustained synaptic inhibition of these neurones. Pharmacological and anatomical data strongly suggested the involvement of KCC2, as an essential postsynaptic determinant of the inhibitory neurotransmission afferent to the MnPO, a key‐structure in the physiology of the hydromineral and cardiovascular homeostasis.
Event-brand transfer in an entertainment service: experiential marketing

Purpose – One of the channels a brand can use to create experiences is events. The brand promoting the event and its sponsors can obtain various benefits in the form of brand image, personality and notoriety. The main aim of this research is to evaluate the effects that experiencing an event has on experience with the promoting brand.Design/methodology/approach – The study analysed the musical event MTV Winter Festival 2010, considering the opinion of 127 attendees to discover the impact of experiencing the MTV entertainment television channel event in three areas: improved brand experience, improved brand personality and increased brand reputation. EQS was used to test the proposed model.Findings – Regarding event experience antecedents, “immersion” has been identified as the most important one and brand experience as an important effect. Also, brand experience has been found to have a positive impact on exciting brand personality and exciting brand personality in turn on brand reputation.Originality/val.
Efferent‐mediated control of basilar membrane motion

Medial olivocochlear efferent (MOCE) neurones innervate the outer hair cells (OHCs) of the mammalian cochlea, and convey signals that are capable of controlling the sensitivity of the peripheral auditory system in a frequency‐specific manner. Recent methodological developments have allowed the effects of the MOCE system to be observed in vivo at the level of the basilar membrane (BM). These observations have confirmed earlier theories that at least some of the MOCE's effects are mediated via the cochlea's mechanics, with the OHCs acting as the mechanical effectors. However, the new observations have also provided some unexpected twists: apparently, the MOCEs can enhance the BM's responses to some sounds while inhibiting its responses to others, and they can alter the BM's response to a single sound using at least two separate mechanisms. Such observations put new constraints on the way in which the cochlea's mechanics, and the OHCs in particular, are thought to operate.
Task-General and Acoustic-Invariant Neural Representation of Speech Categories in the Human Brain

A significant neural challenge in speech perception includes extracting discrete phonetic categories from continuous and multidimensional signals despite varying task demands and surface-acoustic variability. While neural representations of speech categories have been previously identified in frontal and posterior temporal-parietal regions, the task dependency and dimensional specificity of these neural representations are still unclear. Here, we asked native Mandarin participants to listen to speech syllables carrying 4 distinct lexical tone categories across passive listening, repetition, and categorization tasks while they underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We used searchlight classification and representational similarity analysis (RSA) to identify the dimensional structure underlying neural representation across tasks and surface-acoustic properties. Searchlight classification analyses revealed significant "cross-task" lexical tone decoding within the bilateral superior temporal gyrus (STG) and left inferior parietal lobule (LIPL). RSA revealed that the LIPL and LSTG, in contrast to the RSTG, relate to 2 critical dimensions (pitch height, pitch direction) underlying tone perception. Outside this core representational network, we found greater activation in the inferior frontal and parietal regions for stimuli that are more perceptually similar during tone categorization. Our findings reveal the specific characteristics of fronto-tempo-parietal regions that support speech representation and categorization processing.
Fast-spiking Parvalbumin Interneurons are Frequently Myelinated in the Cerebral Cortex of Mice and Humans

Myelination, the insulating ensheathment of axons by oligodendrocytes, is thought to both optimize signal propagation and provide metabolic support. Despite the well-established physiological importance of myelination to neuronal function, relatively little is known about the myelination of GABAergic interneurons in the cerebral cortex. Here, we report that a large fraction of myelin in mouse cerebral cortex ensheaths GABAergic interneurons, reaching up to 80% in hippocampal subregions. Moreover, we find that a very high proportion of neocortical and hippocampal parvalbumin (PV) interneurons exhibit axonal myelination. Using a combination of intracellular recordings and biocytin labeling of ex vivo human neocortex, we also confirm that axons of fast-spiking PV interneurons are extensively myelinated in the human brain. PV interneuron myelination in both mice and humans exhibits a stereotyped topography with a bias towards proximal axonal segments and relatively short internodes (~27 μm) interspersed with branch points. Interestingly, myelin-deficient Shiverer mice exhibit an increased density and more proximal location of en passant boutons, suggesting that myelination might function in part to regulate synapse formation along PV interneuron axons. Taken together, fast-spiking interneuron myelination is likely to have broad implications for cerebral cortex function in health and disease.
Neural Substrate for Metacognitive Accuracy of Tactile Working Memory

Abstract The human prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been shown to be important for metacognition, the capacity to monitor and control one's own cognitive processes. Here we dissected the neural architecture of somatosensory metacognition using navigated single‐pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to modulate tactile working memory (WM) processing. We asked subjects to perform tactile WM tasks and to give a confidence rating for their performance after each trial. We circumvented the challenge of interindividual variability in functional brain anatomy by applying TMS to two PFC areas that, according to tractography, were neurally connected with the primary somatosensory cortex (S1): one area in the superior frontal gyrus (SFG), another in the middle frontal gyrus (MFG). These two PFC locations and a control cortical area were stimulated during both spatial and temporal tactile WM tasks. We found that tractography‐guided TMS of the SFG area selectively enhanced metacognitive accuracy of tactile temporal, but not spatial WM. Stimulation of the MFG area that was also neurally connected with the S1 had no such effect on metacognitive accuracy of either the temporal or spatial tactile WM. Our findings provide causal evidence that the PFC contains distinct neuroanatomical substrates for introspective accuracy of tactile WM.
The development of synaptic plasticity induction rules and the requirement for postsynaptic spikes in rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurones

Coincident pre‐ and postsynaptic activity induces synaptic plasticity at the Schaffer collateral synapse onto CA1 pyramidal neurones. The precise timing, frequency and number of coincident action potentials required to induce synaptic plasticity is currently unknown. In this study we show that the postsynaptic activity required for the induction of long‐term potentiation (LTP) changes with development. In acute slices from adult rats, coincident pre‐ and postsynaptic theta burst stimulation (TBS) induced LTP and we show that multiple high‐frequency postsynaptic spikes are required. In contrast, in acute slices from juvenile (P14) rats, TBS failed to induce LTP unless the excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) were of sufficient magnitude to initiate action potentials. We also show that coincident individual pre‐ and postsynaptic action potentials are only capable of inducing LTP in the juvenile when given at a frequency greater than 5 Hz and that the timing of individual pre‐ and postsynaptic action potentials relative to one another is not important. Finally, we show that local tetrodotoxin (TTX) application to the soma blocked LTP in adults, but not juveniles. These data demonstrate that somatic spiking is more important for LTP induction in the adult as opposed to juvenile rats and we hypothesize that the basis for this is the ability of action potentials in the postsynaptic CA1 pyramidal neurone to back‐propagate into the dendrites. Therefore, the pre‐ and postsynaptic activity patterns required to induce LTP mature as the hippocampus develops.
Human Parahippocampal Cortex Supports Spatial Binding in Visual Working Memory

Abstract Studies investigating the functional organization of the medial temporal lobe (MTL) suggest that parahippocampal cortex (PHC) generates representations of spatial and contextual information used by the hippocampus in the formation of episodic memories. However, evidence from animal studies also implicates PHC in spatial binding of visual information held in short term, working memory. Here we examined a 46‐year‐old man (P.J.), after he had recovered from bilateral medial occipitotemporal cortex strokes resulting in ischemic lesions of PHC and hippocampal atrophy, and a group of age‐matched healthy controls. When recalling the color of 1 of 2 objects, P.J. misidentified the target when cued by its location, but not shape. When recalling the position of 1 of 3 objects, he frequently misidentified the target, which was cued by its color. Increasing the duration of the memory delay had no impact on the proportion of binding errors, but did significantly worsen recall precision in both P.J. and controls. We conclude that PHC may play a crucial role in spatial binding during encoding of visual information in working memory.
Aerobic Fitness Explains Individual Differences in the Functional Brain Connectome of Healthy Young Adults

Abstract A wealth of neuroscience evidence demonstrates that aerobic fitness enhances structural brain plasticity, promoting the development of gray matter volume and maintenance of white matter integrity within networks for executive function, attention, learning, and memory. However, the role of aerobic fitness in shaping the functional brain connectome remains to be established. The present work therefore investigated the effects of aerobic fitness (as measured by VO2max) on individual differences in whole‐brain functional connectivity assessed from resting state fMRI data. Using a connectome‐wide association study, we identified significant brain‐fitness relationships within a large sample of healthy young adults (N = 242). The results revealed several regions within frontal, temporal, parietal, and cerebellar cortex, having significant association with aerobic fitness. We further characterized the influence of these regions on 7 intrinsic connectivity networks, demonstrating the greatest association with networks that are known to mediate the beneficial effects of aerobic fitness on executive function (frontoparietal network), attention and learning (dorsal and ventral attention network), and memory (default mode network). In addition, we provide evidence that connectivity strength between these regions and the frontoparietal network is predictive of individuals’ fluid intelligence.
Selective regulation of spontaneous activity of neurons of the deep cerebellar nuclei by N‐type calcium channels in juvenile rats

The cerebellum coordinates movement and maintains body posture. The main output of the cerebellum is formed by three deep nuclei, which receive direct inhibitory inputs from cerebellar Purkinje cells, and excitatory collaterals from mossy and climbing fibres. Neurons of deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) are spontaneously active, and disrupting their activity results in severe cerebellar ataxia. It is suggested that voltage‐gated calcium channels make a significant contribution to the spontaneous activity of DCN neurons, although the exact identity of these channels is not known. We sought to delineate the functional role and identity of calcium channels that contribute to pacemaking in DCN neurons of juvenile rats. We found that in the majority of cells blockade of calcium currents results in avid high‐frequency bursting, consistent with the notion that the net calcium‐dependent current in DCN neurons is outward. We showed that the bursting seen in these neurons after block of calcium channels is the consequence of reduced activation of small‐conductance calcium‐activated (SK) potassium channels. With the use of selective pharmacological blockers we showed that L‐, P/Q‐, R‐ and T‐type calcium channels do not contribute to the spontaneous activity of DCN neurons. In contrast, blockade of high‐threshold N‐type calcium channels increased the firing rate and caused the cells to burst. Our results thus suggest a selective coupling of N‐type voltage‐gated calcium channels with calcium‐activated potassium channels in DCN neurons. In addition, we demonstrate the presence of a cadmium‐sensitive calcium conductance coupled with SK channels, that is pharmacologically distinct from L‐, N‐, P/Q‐, R‐ and T‐type calcium channels.
Dengue: inquérito sorológico pós-epidêmico em zona urbana do Estado de São Paulo (Brasil)

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o tamanho real da epidemia sobre dengue ocorrida na zona urbana do Municipio de Santa Barbara D'Oeste, SP, Brasil, de abril a junho de 1995. METODOS: Foi realizado um inquerito soroepidemiologico pos-epidemico 5 meses apos o final da epidemia da dengue. Foram processados 1.113 soros atraves de amostragem aleatoria domiciliar da populacao da cidade pesquisada. As taxas de infeccao em diferentes partes da cidade foram relacionadas com os graus de infestacao por Aedes aegipty e com a quantidade de casos notificados durante a epidemia. RESULTADOS E CONCLUSOES: Foi encontrada variacao concomitante e diretamente proporcional entre as taxas de infeccao pelo virus da dengue, em diferentes partes da cidade, e os graus de infestacao domiciliar por Aedes aegipty, bem como em relacao ao numero de casos notificados durante a epidemia. Encontrou-se prevalencia de 630 por 100 mil habitantes, representando valor 15 vezes superior ao de incidencia de casos confirmados laboratorialmente durante a epidemia. Atraves de comparacao retrospectiva com dados de notificacao compulsoria, observou-se que a vigilância epidemiologica nao detectou a maioria das pessoas soro-reativas. Apesar disso, notificou grande quantidade de casos que nao eram de individuos com dengue, tipificando um valor preditivo positivo baixo (15,6%) para o diagnostico clinico de dengue quando o resultado laboratorial (HAI) e tomado como padrao-ouro.