Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of two different correction strategies on the snatch technique in weightlifting

ABSTRACT Improving motor skills represents one of the major issues in motor control and motor learning literature. The aim of this study was to investigate which of two strategies, method of amplification of error (MAE) or direct instruction (DI), would be more beneficial for error correction of the snatch technique. Thirty well-trained male weightlifters were randomly assigned to one of three training conditions (MAE, DI and Control). The experiment took place in only one practice session in which each lifter performed 3 pretraining trials, 8 training intervention trials, and 3 post-training trials, and a retention test session after 1 week. An optoelectronic motion capture system was used to measure the kinematic parameters of the weightlifting performance. After the training intervention, data showed that the MAE group revealed a greater improvement in several kinematic parameters when compared to the DI and Control groups, and the benefits derived from its application were still present 1 week later in the retention test. Nevertheless, the findings of the present study should be interpreted with caution due to the relatively small sample size; further research will also be necessary to evaluate the effects of MAE with different ability levels and other sport skills. The present findings could have practical implications for sport psychology and physical education because while practice is obviously necessary for improving learning, the efficacy of the learning process is essential in enhancing learners’ motivation and sport enjoyment.
The Day after the Disaster: Forced Migration and Income Loss after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

A model of post‐disaster migration responses and income consequences poses that damage severity and individual resilience affect moving decisions. Forced moves are linked to little resilience relative to damage incurred and post‐move income reductions. The empirical analysis analyzes households affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Using American Community Survey data, unobserved heterogeneous income damages are framed as treatment, with the moving decision being the treatment decision. An endogenous switching regression addresses self‐selection issues. The results suggest that movers encountered double victimization: (1) they were forced to move and their income declined; (2) low‐income households were more severely affected than the average.
Enhanced blood pressure and appetite responses to chronic central melanocortin-3/4 receptor blockade in dietary-induced obesity

Method We examined the role of central nervous system (CNS) endogenous melanocortin 3/4 receptors (MC3/4R) activity in controlling cardiovascular and metabolic functions in Sprague Dawley rats fed a high-fat diet (n = 6) for 10 months compared with rats fed a standard chow (normal fat, n = 8) starting at 3 weeks of age. Results At 7 months of age, high-fat rats were heavier (473 ± 3 vs. 424 ± 7 g), consumed more calories with larger, less frequent meals and had reduced respiratory quotient (RQ) compared with normal-fat rats. After 10 months on the diets, arterial and venous catheters were implanted for measurement of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) 24-h/day and i.v. (intravenous) infusions, and a 21G steel cannula was placed in the lateral ventricle for intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusions. High-fat rats were heavier (528 ± 14 vs. 477 ± 11 g) with increased visceral adiposity and significantly higher MAP (108 ± 3 vs. 102 ± 1 mmHg). After a 5-day control period, the rats were infused with a MC3/4R antagonist (SHU-9119, 1 nmol/h, ICV) for 10 days followed by a 5-day recovery period. SHU-9119 infusion for 10 days increased caloric intake significantly more in high-fat rats (159 ± 19 vs. 64 ± 8 kcal). Despite increasing caloric intake and rapid weight gain, MC3/4R antagonism reduced MAP more in high-fat diet compared with normal-fat rats (−7.9 ± 0.3 vs. −4.7 ± 1.3 mmHg, average reduction of last 4 days of blockade). Conclusion These observations suggest that a high-fat diet increases endogenous activity of the CNS MC3/4R and that an intact MC3/4 appears to play an important role in linking increased blood pressure with diet-induced obesity.
Effect of different mouthrinses on morning breath.

BACKGROUND Morning breath odor is an often-encountered complaint. This double-blind, crossover, randomized study aimed to examine the bad breath-inhibiting effect of 3 commercially available mouthrinses on morning halitosis during an experimental period of 12 days without mechanical plaque control. METHODS Twelve medical students with a healthy periodontium refrained from all means of mechanical plaque control during 3 experimental periods of 12 days (with intervening washout periods of at least 3 weeks). A professional oral cleaning preceded each period. During each experimental period, as the only oral hygiene measure allowed, the students rinsed twice a day with one of the following formulations in a randomized order: CHX-Alc (a 0.2% chlorhexidine [CHX] solution); CHX-NaF (CHX 0.12% plus sodium fluoride 0.05%); or CHX-CPC-Zn (CHX 0.05% plus cetylpyridinium chloride 0.05% plus zinc lactate 0.14%). After 12 days, morning breath was scored via volatile sulfur compound (VSC) level measurements of the mouth air and organoleptic ratings of the mouth air, the expired air, and a scraping of the tongue coating. At the 12-day visit, a questionnaire (subjective ratings) was completed and samples taken from both the tongue coating and the saliva for anaerobic and aerobic culturing and vitality staining. The de novo supragingival plaque formation was also recorded. All parameters were correlated with the baseline registrations. RESULTS Although oral hygiene during the 3 experimental periods was limited to oral rinses, bad breath parameters systematically improved, with the exception of a slight increase in VSC levels while using CHX-Alc, a finding which was associated with the direct influence of the CHX on the sulfide monitor. The oral microbial load after the use of CHX-NaF remained unchanged, while for the CHX-Alc and CHX-CPC-Zn, significant reductions in both aerobic and anaerobic colony forming units (CFU)/ml were noticed in comparison with baseline data for both tongue coating and saliva samples. The composition of microflora, on the other hand, did not reveal significant changes. The supragingival plaque formation was inhibited, in descending order, by CHX-Alc, CHX-CPC-Zn, and CHX-NaF. The subjective scores for the rinses indicated a higher appreciation for CHX-CPC-Alc and CHX-NaF because of a better taste and fewer side effects. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study demonstrate that morning halitosis can be successfully reduced via daily use of mouthrinses. CHX-Alc and CHX-CPC-Zn mouthrinses result in a significant reduction of the microbial load of tongue and saliva.
Distribution of linear antigenic sites on glycoprotein gp55 of human cytomegalovirus

Human convalescent serum and bacterial fusion proteins constructed from overlapping open reading frames of the nucleotide sequence encoding the human cytomegalovirus gp55 component of the major envelope glycoprotein complex, gp55-116 (gB), were used to localize antigenic regions recognized by human antibodies. All donor serum analyzed contained antibody reactivity for an antigenic site(s) located between amino acids (AA) 589 and 645, a region containing a previously defined linear site recognized by neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (U. Utz, B. Britt, L. Vugler, and M. Mach, J. Virol. 63:1995-2001, 1989). Furthermore, in-frame insertion of two different synthetic oligonucleotides encoding four amino acids into the sequence at nucleotide 1847 (AA 616) eliminated antibody recognition of the fusion protein. A second antibody binding site was located within the carboxyl terminus of the protein (AA 703 through 906). A competitive binding inhibition assay in which monoclonal antibodies were used to inhibit human antibody reactivity with recombinant gp55-116 (gB) suggested that the majority of human anti-gp55-116 (gB) antibodies were directed against a single antigenic region located between AA 589 and 645. Furthermore, inoculation of mice with fusion proteins containing this antigenic site led to a boostable antibody response. These results indicated that the antigenic site(s) located between AA 589 and 645 was an immunodominant antibody recognition site on gp55 and likely the whole gp55-116 (gB) molecule. The enhanced immunogenicity of this region in vivo may account for its immunodominance.
Best duplex-sonographic criteria for the assessment of renal artery stenosis--correlation with intra- arterial pressure gradient.

PURPOSE Colour coded duplex sonography (DS) is widely used for the assessment of renal artery stenosis (RAS). Different criteria have been specified for the detection of significant RAS. The aim of our study was to compare routinely used DS criteria, both with intra-arterial pressure gradients and arteriographic degree of stenosis, and to validate different cut-off points of these DS criteria for the assessment of haemodynamically significant RAS. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively analysed forty-nine patients (median age 67 years, 29 male) with RAS documented by duplex sonography, referred for renal arterial subtraction arteriography and intra-arterial pressure measurement (93 renal arteries). DS measurement of peak systolic velocity (PSV) in the main renal artery, the renal/aortal velocity ratio (RAR) and the side-to-side differences of the intrarenal resistive indices (DeltaRI) were correlated to intra-arterial pressure measurements and arteriographic degree of stenosis. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) were used to determine the best cut-off value of DS criteria. RESULTS 39 (41 %) renal arteries had normal findings or non significant stenosis < 50 %, 23 (25 %) had a diameter reduction between 50 % and 69 %, and 31 (33 %) > or = 70 %. The systolic pressure gradient showed good correlation with the arteriographic degree of RAS (r = 0.77, p < 0.001) and the PSV measured by duplex sonography (r = 0.67, p < 0.001). Mean systolic pressure gradient was 24 mmHg at 50 % stenosis and 23 mmHg at PSV of 200 cm/sec. A PSV of > or = 200 cm/sec provided a sensitivity of 92 % and specificity of 81 % for detecting RAS of > or = 50 %. Similar results were found for RAR > or = 2.5 with a sensitivity of 92 % and specificity of 79 %. These cut-off values have a negative predictive value of 100 % for excluding high-grade RAS of > or = 70 %. A DeltaRI of > or =0.05 has low sensitivity of 31 %, but a high specificity of 97 % for detecting RAS of > or = 50 %. CONCLUSION DS measurements and the severity of arteriographic diameter reduction correlate well with systolic pressure gradients. Clinically expedient DS criteria for detecting RAS of > or = 50 % are a PSV of > or = 200 cm/sec or a RAR of > or =2.5. These criteria allow reliable exclusion of severe RAS of > or = 70 %.
Tissue‐Specific Expression and Cold‐Induced mRNA Levels of Uncoupling Proteins in the Djungarian Hamster

The uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), a mitochondrial transmembrane protein, is responsible for adaptive thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT). Two UCP1 homologues, UCP2 and UCP3, were recently discovered, but it is controversial whether they also play a role in energy homeostasis. Djungarian hamster UCPs were found to exhibit high similarity with homologues known in other species. UCP1 mRNA was restricted to BAT, UCP2 mRNA was expressed in multiple tissues, and UCP3 mRNA was detected mainly in BAT and skeletal muscles. We examined the cold‐induced regulation of hamster UCP mRNA levels and tested their correlation with serum free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations. In BAT UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3 expression was upregulated in the cold, but the increase and time course of increase differed. In skeletal muscle, UCP2 and UCP3 mRNA levels were not altered. Cold‐induced changes of serum FFA levels correlated with the stimulation of UCP1 mRNA in BAT but not with UCP2 and UCP3.
Induction of homologous recombination in mammalian chromosomes by using the I-SceI system of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The mitochondrial intron-encoded endonuclease I-SceI of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has an 18-bp recognition sequence and, therefore, has a very low probability of cutting DNA, even within large genomes. We demonstrate that double-strand breaks can be initiated by the I-SceI endonuclease at a predetermined location in the mouse genome and that the breaks can be repaired with a donor molecule homologous regions flanking the breaks. This induced homologous recombination is approximately 2 orders of magnitude more frequent than spontaneous homologous recombination and at least 10 times more frequent than random integration near an active promoter. As a consequence of induced homologous recombination, a heterologous novel sequence can be inserted at the site of the break. This recombination can occur at a variety of chromosomal targets in differentiated and multipotential cells. These results demonstrate homologous recombination involving chromosomal DNA by the double-strand break repair mechanism in mammals and show the usefulness of very rare cutter endonucleases, such as I-SceI, for designing genome rearrangements.
Gender differences in the urinary excretion rates of cortisol and androgen metabolites

Animal studies show significant differences in steroid metabolism between male and female subjects. Similar studies in human subjects are still needed. The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in 24-h urinary excretion of cortisol and androgen metabolites between healthy male and female volunteers to estimate if such differences were significant. Urinary metabolite measurements were performed by gas chromatography. The median urinary excretion of total cortisol metabolites was 6965 μg/day for men and 4595 μg/day for women (P=0·0005). Urinary excretion of 11 β-hydroxyandrosterone, tetrahydrocortisone, tetrahydrocortisol (5β), allotetrahydrocortisol (5α), α-cortolone, β-cortolone + β-cortol and α-cortol were also significantly different in men compared with women. Total androgen metabolites in men (2660 μg/day) were also higher than in women (1850 μg/day) (P< 0·0003). Similarly, urinary excretion of androsterone (5α), aetiocholanolone (5β) and dehydroepiandrosterone were also significantly greater (all P=0·01). This confirms significant differences in the steroid metabolite excretion profiles between men and women. Laboratories should consider adopting gender-related reference ranges for cortisol and androgen metabolite excretion in 24-h urine samples.
[Monitoring and evaluation of the Hungarian methadone maintenance programmes].

INTRODUCTION Methadone maintenance has an important role in the treatment of injecting heroin users and the reduction of harm connected to drug abuse. In their study, the authors aimed to identify methadone maintenance and substitution programmes and service providers, addiction and psychosocial characteristics of clients, their satisfaction with the programmes and the realization of methadone maintenance "methodological letter" (guideline) issued by the Ministry of Health. METHODS During the study all the eight outpatient centres providing methadone maintenance were involved as well as their clients and experts. The client sample was 150 clients according to the National Methadone Register: sampling according to the centre and national gender distribution. The expert sample consists of two-two experts from each centre. Sociodemographic characteristics, satisfaction and Treatment Demand Indicator (TDI) of the clients were investigated while experts were asked about the recommendations of the methodological letter. In case of 119 clients, the intake and current TDI-s were compared. RESULTS clients are satisfied with the treatment; the treatment causes positive perceived changes in their life both in psychosocial and drug use characteristics. Recommendations of the methodological letters were not realized totally. CONCLUSION According the study, authors propose development of the methodological letter as well as detailed and exact definitions of the letter.
Does self-fulfilment of the inflation expectation exist?

ABSTRACT This study examines the causal relationship between the actual and expected inflation in the U.S., using the bootstrap Granger full-sample causality test and sub-sample rolling-window estimation test to illustrate the self-fulfilment of inflation expectations. The full-sample result indicates that there is a bidirectional causality between the actual and expected inflation, showing the possibility of self-fulfilment of inflation expectations which illustrates that inflation is driven by inflation expectation. However, considering structural changes in two series, we find that the short-run causal nexus between the actual and expected inflation using full-sample data are fraudulent. By adopting a time-varying rolling-window approach to revisiting the dynamic causal relationships, this article identifies that the actual inflation has both positive and negative impacts on the expected inflation in distinct sub-periods. Nevertheless, inflation expectation exerts only negative effects on the actual inflation. The results point out that the self-fulfilment of inflation expectations does not exist. Given the bidirectional nexus between the actual and expected inflation, keeping a low and stable inflation is critical to price stability and anchoring of inflation expectation.
Novel Substrate Specificity of the Histone Acetyltransferase Activity of HIV-1-Tat Interactive Protein Tip60*

Tip60, originally isolated as an HIV-1-Tat interactive protein, contains an evolutionarily conserved domain with yeast silencing factors. We demonstrate here direct biochemical evidence that this domain of Tip60 has histone acetyltransferase activity. The purified recombinant effectively acetylates H2A, H3, and H4 but not H2B of core histone mixtures. This substrate specificity has not been observed among histone acetyltransferases analyzed to date. These results indicate that Tip60 is a histone acetyltransferase with a novel property, suggesting that Tip60 and its related factors may introduce a distinct alteration on chromatin.
Molecular regulation of xenoreactivity

Purpose of reviewThe past year has seen several pig-to-baboon transplant studies using α1,3-galactosyltransferase-deficient donors. There are now sufficient data to begin to assess the impact of this important modification, and to review additional genetic strategies that may bring xenotransplantation to the clinic. Recent findingsSurvival of pig heart and kidney xenografts can now be measured in months rather than weeks, and the introduction of α1,3-galactosyltransferase-deficient donors has removed the requirement for depletion of anti-galactose-α1,3-galactose antibodies. The main obstacle to even longer survival is the development of antibodies to as yet unidentified non-galactose-α1,3-galactose antigens. Analysis of rejected grafts indicates that these antibodies activate graft endothelium, and the resulting prothrombotic state is poorly controlled because endogenous porcine anticoagulants fail to efficiently regulate primate clotting factors. Manipulation of the donor or graft to express anticoagulant and immunosuppressive molecules has produced encouraging results in small animal models. It is conceivable that expression of these molecules in pigs, in combination with the existing α1,3-galactosyltransferase-deficient and complement regulator transgenic modifications, will result in stable long-term xenograft survival. SummaryThe α1,3-galactosyltransferase-deficient pig has advanced the field and becomes the platform on which further genetic modifications are built.
Risk of mortality among individual antipsychotics in patients with dementia.

OBJECTIVE The use of antipsychotics to treat the behavioral symptoms of dementia is associated with greater mortality. The authors examined the mortality risk of individual agents to augment the limited information on individual antipsychotic risk. METHOD The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study using national data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (fiscal years 1999-2008) for dementia patients age 65 and older who began outpatient treatment with an antipsychotic (risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, or haloperidol) or valproic acid and its derivatives (as a nonantipsychotic comparison). The total sample included 33,604 patients, and individual drug groups were compared for 180-day mortality rates. The authors analyzed the data using multivariate models and propensity adjustments. RESULTS In covariate-adjusted intent-to-treat analyses, haloperidol was associated with the highest mortality rates (relative risk=1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.38-1.73) followed by risperidone (reference), olanzapine (relative risk=0.99, 95% CI=0.89-1.10), valproic acid and its derivatives (relative risk=0.91, 95% CI=0.78-1.06), and quetiapine (relative risk=0.73, 95% CI=0.67-0.80). Propensity-stratified and propensity-weighted models as well as analyses controlling for site of care and medication dosage revealed similar patterns. The mortality risk with haloperidol was highest in the first 30 days but decreased significantly and sharply thereafter. Among the other agents, mortality risk differences were most significant in the first 120 days and declined in the subsequent 60 days during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS There may be differences in mortality risks among individual antipsychotic agents used for treating patients with dementia. The use of valproic acid and its derivatives as alternative agents to address the neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia may carry associated risks as well.
Extracellular superoxide dismutase and oxidant damage in osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE To use human cartilage samples and a mouse model of osteoarthritis (OA) to determine whether extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) is a constituent of cartilage and to evaluate whether there is a relationship between EC-SOD deficiency and OA. METHODS Samples of human cartilage were obtained from femoral heads at the time of joint replacement surgery for OA or femoral neck fracture. Samples of mouse tibial cartilage obtained from STR/ort mice and CBA control mice were compared at 5, 15, and 35 weeks of age. EC-SOD was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry techniques. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to measure messenger RNA for EC-SOD and for endothelial cell, neuronal, and inducible nitric oxide synthases. Nitrotyrosine formation was assayed by Western blotting in mouse cartilage and by fluorescence immunohistochemistry in human cartilage. RESULTS Human articular cartilage contained large amounts of EC-SOD (mean +/- SEM 18.8 +/- 3.8 ng/gm wet weight of cartilage). Cartilage from patients with OA had an approximately 4-fold lower level of EC-SOD compared with cartilage from patients with hip fracture. Young STR/ort mice had decreased levels of EC-SOD in tibial cartilage before histologic evidence of disease occurred, as well as significantly more nitrotyrosine formation at all ages studied. CONCLUSION EC-SOD, the major scavenger of reactive oxygen species in extracellular spaces, is decreased in humans with OA and in an animal model of OA. Our findings suggest that inadequate control of reactive oxygen species plays a role in the pathophysiology of OA.
Fissioned Triangular Schemes via the Cross-ratio

A construction of association schemes is presented; these are fission schemes of the triangular schemesT (n) where n=q+ 1 with q any prime power. The key observation is quite elementary, being that the natural action of PGL(2, q) on the 2-element subsets of the projective line PG(1, q) is generously transitive. In addition, some observations on the intersection parameters and fusion schemes of these association schemes are made.