Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An electromyographic study of some muscles acting on the upper extremity of man

In recent years electromyography has become accepted as a useful tool for investigations of muscle actions. By means of multiple channel electromyography, one can determine not only if a specific muscle is contracting, but also to what extent it is participating with other muscles in the performance of a certain movement. Textbooks of anatomy (Grant, '52; Gray, '54 and Spalteholz) describe the deltoideus as a flexor, extensor, abductor, and medial and lateral rotator of the humerus. Grossly, the muscle may be divided into three distinct parts on the basis of origin and mode of function. The anterior fibers produce flexion and medial rotation of the humerus, the posterior fibers extend and laterally rotate, and the middle fibers abduct. The anterior and posterior parts of the deltoid contain parallel fibers, while the middle fibers are multipennate. These anatomical features probably are responsible for the wide range of movements and functions that this muscle is capable of producing. Yamshon and Bierman ('49) reported action potentials from all points on the deltoid when the arm was moved from the body in any direction. Our laboratory was interested in trying to interpret the results of these authors and to correlate the electromyographic findings from the deltoid with those from other muscles acting on the upper extremity that could be studied by means of surface electrodes.
Requirement for cAMP-PKA Pathway Activation by M Phase-Promoting Factor in the Transition from Mitosis to Interphase

Cell cycle progression in cycling Xenopus egg extracts is accompanied by fluctuations in the concentration of adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP) and in the activity of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). The concentration of cAMP and the activity of PKA decrease at the onset of mitosis and increase at the transition between mitosis and interphase. Blocking the activation of PKA at metaphase prevented the transition into interphase; the activity of M phase-promoting factor (MPF; the cyclin B-p34cdc2 complex) remained high, and mitotic cyclins were not degraded. The arrest in mitosis was reversed by the reactivation of PKA. The inhibition of protein synthesis prevented the accumulation of cyclin and the oscillations of MPF, PKA, and cAMP. Addition of recombinant nondegradable cyclin B activated p34cdc2 and PKA and induced the degradation of full-length cyclin B. Addition of cyclin A activated p34cdc2 but not PKA, nor did it induce the degradation of full-length cyclin B. These findings suggest that cyclin degradation and exit from mitosis require MPF-dependent activation of the cAMP-PKA pathway.
Dietary consumption of monosodium L‐glutamate induces adaptive response and reduction in the life span of Drosophila melanogaster

Adaptive response is the ability of an organism to better counterattack stress‐induced damage in response to a number of different cytotoxic agents. Monosodium L‐glutamate (MSG), the sodium salt of amino acid glutamate, is commonly used as a food additive. We investigated the effects of MSG on the life span and antioxidant response in Drosophila melanogaster (D. melanogaster). Both genders (1 to 3 days old) of flies were fed with diet containing MSG (0.1, 0.5, and 2.5‐g/kg diet) for 5 days to assess selected antioxidant and oxidative stress markers, while flies for longevity were fed for lifetime. Thereafter, the longevity assay, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species levels were determined. Also, catalase, glutathione S‐transferase and acetylcholinesterase activities, and total thiol content were evaluated in the flies. We found that MSG reduced the life span of the flies by up to 23% after continuous exposure. Also, MSG increased reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and H2O2 generations and total thiol content as well as the activities of catalase and glutathione S‐transferase in D. melanogaster (P < .05). In conclusion, consumption of MSG for 5 days by D. melanogaster induced adaptive response, but long‐term exposure reduced life span of flies. This study may therefore have public health significance in humans, and thus, moderate consumption of MSG is advocated by the authors.
Listeria Occurrence in Poultry Flocks: Detection and Potential Implications

Foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, and Listeria are a major concern within the food industry due to their pathogenic potential to cause infection. Of these, Listeria monocytogenes, possesses a high mortality rate (approximately 20%) and is considered one of the most dangerous foodborne pathogens. Although the usual reservoirs for Listeria transmission have been extensively studied, little is known about the relationship between Listeria and live poultry production. Sporadic and isolated cases of listeriosis have been attributed to poultry production and Listeria spp. have been isolated from all stages of poultry production and processing. Farm studies suggest that live birds may be an important vector and contributor to contamination of the processing environment and transmission of Listeria to consumers. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to highlight the occurrence, incidence, and potential systemic interactions of Listeria spp. with poultry.
Response to Comment on "A New Species of Yunnanozoan with Implications for Deuterostome Evolution"

Yunnanozoans are a distinctive clade of Lower Cambrian metazoans. Although widely accepted as deuterostomes, their exact placement within this superphylum is controversial. Here we describe a new species of Haikouella (H. jianshanensis) from the Chengjiang Lagerstätte (Yunnan, China) with exceptional preservation of a number of features. These include external gills, which suggest that the origin of the pharyngeal clefts was independent of the gills. The diagnostic branchial arches of chordates may, therefore, be composite structures. No evidence was found for the chordate-like structures that have been described in other yunnanozoans. We propose that yunnanozoans are stem-group deuterostomes, allied to the vetulicolians.
Conserved Sex-Specific Timing of Meiotic Initiation During Sex Differentiation in the Protandrous Black Porgy Acanthopagrus schlegelii1

ABSTRACT Meiosis is an essential mechanism of gametogenesis for all sexually reproducing species. In vertebrates, one conserved aspect of sex differentiation is that female embryonic germ cells enter meiosis earlier than male germ cells. In some lower vertebrates, female germ cells proliferate prior to entering meiosis, whereas male cells remain in mitotic arrest. Protandrous black porgy fish, Acanthopagrus schlegelii, have a dramatic life cycle involving a characteristic sex change. Black porgy are functional males for their first and second spawning seasons, but approximately half of the fish transform into females during their third year. We cloned the black porgy homologs of dosage suppressor of mck1 homolog (dmc1) and synaptonemal complex protein 3 (sycp3), and examined their expression profiles as well as those of cytochrome P450 family 26 genes (cyp26: cyp26a and cyp26b), retinaldehyde dehydrogenases (raldh: raldh2 and raldh3), retinoic acid receptors (rars: raralpha, rarbeta, rargamma, and rargammab), retinoid X receptors (rxrs: rxralpha, rxrbeta, and rxrgamma) and deleted azoospermia-like (dazl) during gonadal sex differentiation by RT-PCR, quantitative RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry. Our results show that during gonadal development, germ cells located in ovarian tissue proceed into meiosis earlier than germ cells in testicular tissue. Furthermore, treatment with estradiol-17beta, which induced cyp26 expression, blocked dazl and raldh expression and reduced the expression of rars, rxrs, dmc1, and sycp3. This unique model therefore suggests that the temporal differences in meiosis initiation between females and males are conserved during gonadal sex differentiation in hermaphroditic vertebrates.
Implication de la voie ERK3/4-MK5 dans la phase G2/M du cycle cellulaire

La division cellulaire est influencee par les differents stimuli provenant de l’exterieur ou de l’interieur de la cellule. Plusieurs reseaux enzymatiques elabores au cours de l’evolution relayent l’information generee par ces signaux. Les modules MAP kinases sont extremement importants au sein de la cellule. Chez l’humain, 14 MAP kinases sont regroupees en sept voies distinctes intervenant dans le controle d’une myriade de processus cellulaires. ERK3/4 sont des homologues de ERK1/2 pour lesquelles on ne connait que tres peu de choses concernant leurs fonctions et regulation. Ces MAP kinases sont dites atypiques puisqu’elles ont des particularites structurales et des modes de regulation qui different des autres MAP kinases classiques. Ainsi, notre laboratoire a demontre que l’activite de ERK3 est regulee par le systeme ubiquitine-proteasome et qu’elle pourrait avoir un role a jouer dans le controle de la differenciation et la proliferation cellulaire. La premiere etude presentee decrit la regulation de ERK3 au cours du cycle cellulaire. Nous avons observe que ERK3 est hyperphosphorylee et s’accumule specifiquement au cours de la mitose. Des analyses de spectrometrie de masse ont mene a l’identification de quatre sites de phosphorylation situes a l’extremite du domaine C-terminal. Nous avons pu demontrer que la kinase mitotique CDK1/cycline B phosphoryle ces sites et que les phosphatases CDC14A et CDC14B les dephosphorylent. Finalement, nous demontrons que la phosphorylation mitotique de ERK3 a pour effet de la stabiliser. Au debut de mes etudes doctorales, la kinase MK5 fut identifiee comme premier partenaire et substrat de ERK3. MK5 a tres peu de fonctions connues. Des donnees dans la litterature suggerent qu’elle peut moduler le cycle cellulaire dans certaines conditions. Par exemple, MK5 a recemment ete identifie comme inducteur de la senescence induite par l’oncogene Ras. Dans la deuxieme etude, nous decrivons une nouvelle fonction de MK5 dans le controle du cycle cellulaire. Nous demontrons par des experiences de gain et perte de fonction que MK5 ralentit l’entree en mitose suite a un arret de la replication. Cette fonction est dependante de l’activite enzymatique de MK5 qui regule indirectement l’activite de CDK1/cycline B. Finalement, nous avons identifie Cdc25A comme un nouveau substrat in vitro de MK5 dont la surexpression supprime l’effet de MK5 sur l’entree en mitose. En conclusion, nos resultats decrivent un nouveau mecanisme de regulation de ERK3 au cours de la mitose, ainsi qu’une nouvelle fonction pour MK5 dans le controle de l’entree en mitose en reponse a des stress de la replication. Ces resultats demontrent pour la premiere fois l’implication de ces proteines au cours de la transition G2/M. Nos travaux etablissent de nouvelles pistes d’etudes pour mieux comprendre les roles encore peu definis des kinases ERK3/4-MK5.
Product unit neural network models for predicting the growth limits of Listeria monocytogenes

A new approach to predict the growth/no growth interface of Listeria monocytogenes as a function of storage temperature, pH, citric acid (CA) and ascorbic acid (AA) is presented. A linear logistic regression procedure was performed and a non-linear model was obtained by adding new variables by means of a Neural Network model based on Product Units (PUNN). The classification efficiency of the training data set and the generalization data of the new Logistic Regression PUNN model (LRPU) were compared with Linear Logistic Regression (LLR) and Polynomial Logistic Regression (PLR) models. 92% of the total cases from the LRPU model were correctly classified, an improvement on the percentage obtained using the PLR model (90%) and significantly higher than the results obtained with the LLR model, 80%. On the other hand predictions of LRPU were closer to data observed which permits to design proper formulations in minimally processed foods. This novel methodology can be applied to predictive microbiology for describing growth/no growth interface of food-borne microorganisms such as L. monocytogenes. The optimal balance is trying to find models with an acceptable interpretation capacity and with good ability to fit the data on the boundaries of variable range. The results obtained conclude that these kinds of models might well be very a valuable tool for mathematical modeling. r 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Lessons Learned From a Survey of the Diagnosis and Treatment Journeys of Postmenopausal Women With Hypertension

In this qualitative, experiential study, 300 members of the database of WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women With Heart Disease completed an online survey about hypertension diagnosis and treatment, patient education, and perceptions of this and related conditions. Based on the findings from the survey, characteristics of the prototypical journey were identified. To the extent to which the surveyed WomenHeart members represent typical experiences, this survey provides insights into common hurdles women encounter in their journey throughout the hypertension diagnosis and treatment process. Results of this study suggest the need for a patient‐centric approach to hypertension management and to implement programs with the intention of comprehensively assessing and meeting individual needs. Further studies would be of value to expand on patients' journeys in the management of hypertension and identify the types of products, services, and programming that most effectively support treatment adherence and achievement of optimal blood pressure control.
Long‐term endocrine toxicity of myeloablative treatment followed by autologous bone marrow/blood derived stem cell transplantation in patients with malignant lymphohematopoietic disorders

The effect of myeloablative treatment with autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT)/autologous blood derived stem cell transplantation (ABSCT) in patients with acute leukemias or lymphomas was studied in 32 adult patients with a mean observation time of 15.8 months after transplantation. The conditioning regimen consisted of hyperfractionated total‐body irradiation (TBI) and high‐dose cyclophosphamide or the cyclophosphamide, carmustine, and etoposid (CBV) regimen. In all of the female patients, we observed primary ovarian failure requiring estradiol replacement therapy. In all of the male patients, testosterone levels were normal but follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were increased, suggestive of germinal aplasia which was proved by semen analysis in several patients. In contrast to the reports of other groups, we did not find any abnormalities in thyroid function, most likely because TBI was hyperfractionated. Moderate toxicity to the adrenal cortex was noticed and was more pronounced in women than in men. Our results are similar to findings reported after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, with the exception of normal thyroid function in our patients. These results should be taken into consideration when counseling patients about the long‐term consequences of myeloablative treatment. Cryopreservation of semen should be offered to men before myeloablative treatment. Estrogen replacement should be initiated after transplantation in women to prevent adverse effects of long‐term ovarian failure.
Evaluating the inter-respondent (consumer vs. staff) reliability and construct validity (SIS vs. Vineland) of the Supports Intensity Scale on a Dutch sample.

BACKGROUND Despite various reliability studies on the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS), to date there has not been an evaluation of the reliability of client vs. staff judgments. Such determination is important, given the increasing consumer-driven approach to services. Additionally, there has not been an evaluation of the instrument's construct validity on a non-English speaking sample. This is important as the SIS is currently translated into 13 languages. METHOD Data were collected in two different samples, using the Dutch translation of the SIS and the Vineland-Z. RESULTS There was a significant correlation between ratings of staff and consumers on the SIS; however, the relationship between the mean scores of consumer and staff responses indicated significant differences in staff and consumer scores. All correlations between the Vineland-Z domains and the SIS subscales were significant and negative, ranging from -0.37 to -0.89. CONCLUSIONS Analyses of the inter-respondent reliability suggest that one needs to consider the source of information regarding needed supports carefully. The significant negative correlations between SIS and Vineland-Z reflect that the SIS is measuring a different construct (needed support) than the Vineland-Z (adaptive behaviour). The results of the two studies provide additional support for the etic (universal) properties of the SIS, as both hypotheses were confirmed. In conclusion, SIS users are provided with a wealth of information that can be used for multiple purposes.
Dissociations in the Processing of What and Where Information in Working Memory: An Event-Related Potential Analysis

Based on recent research that suggests that the processing of spatial and object information in the primate brain involves functionally and anatomically different systems, we examined whether the encoding and retention of object and spatial information in working memory are associated with different ERP components. In a study-test procedure subjects were asked to either remember simple geometric objects presented in a 4 by 4 spatial matrix irrespective of their position (object memory task) or to remember spatial positions of the objects irrespective of their forms (spatial memory task). The EEG was recorded from 13 electrodes during the study phase and the test phase. Recognition performance (reaction time and accuracy) was not different for the two memory tasks. PCA analyses suggest that the same four ERP components are evoked in the study phase by both tasks, which could be identified as N100, P200, P300, and slow wave. ERPs started to differ as a function of memory task 225 msec after stimulus onset at the posterior recording sites: An occipital maximal P200 component, lateralized to the right posterior temporal recording site, was observed for the object memory but not for the spatial memory task. Between-tasks differences were also obtained for P300 scalp distribution. Moreover, ERPs evoked by objects that were remembered later were more positive than ERPs to objects that were not remembered, starting at 400 msec postsimulus. The PCA analysis suggest that P300 and a slow wave following P300 at the frontal recordings contribute to these differences. A similar differential effect was not found between positions remembered or not remembered later. Post hoc analyses revealed that the absence of such effects in the spatial memory task could be due to less elaborated mnemonic strategies used in the spatial task compared to the object memory task. In the face of two additional behavioral experiments showing that subjects exclusively encode object features in the object memory task and spatial stimulus features in the spatial memory task, the present data provide evidence that encoding and rehearsal of object and spatial information in working memory are subserved by functionally and anatomically different subsystems.
Fimbriation, Hemagglutination and Adherence Properties of Fresh Clinical Isolates of Branhamella catarrhalis

This study investigated the fimbriation on 24 fresh clinical isolates of Branhamella catarrhalis by electron microscopy. All the strains were isolated from patients with respiratory infections. The Branhamella catarrhalis strains were classified into three groups according to the grade of fimbriation. Among these 24 strains the incidence of densely fimbriated, moderately fimbriated and sparsely fimbriated isolates were 12 (50%), 7 (29%) and 5 (21%), respectively. After five‐times serial subculture on Brain Heart Infusion agar, the average number of fimbriae per bacteria was decreased from 174 to 114 in the densely fimbriated strain and from 48 to 10 in the moderately fimbriated strain. Moreover, 20% of the population became non‐fimbriated in moderately fimbriated strain after the serial subculture. In strains with higher hemagglutination titer the number of fimbriae was significantly (P<0.04) more than in strains with lower hemagglutination titer.
Treating bipolar depression – antidepressants and alternatives: a critical review of the literature

Objective: Although depressive symptoms are preponderant in the course of bipolar (BP) disorders, the treatment of BP depression remains a controversial issue with different clinical approaches available. This review addresses the issues of whether antidepressants (ADs) are effective in treating acute and long-term BP depression, risks linked to ADs and what alternatives to ADs are available. Methods: We searched the MEDLINE databases using the following syntax: [bipolar depression AND unipolar depression AND (antidepressants OR anticonvulsants OR lithium OR antipsychotics OR dopamine-agonists OR psychoeducation OR psychotherapy OR electroconvulsive therapy OR transcranial magnetic stimulation)]. The search included studies published up to 31 May 2009 and conducted on adults. Results: In the acute treatment of BP depression ADs are effective with no differences among drug classes. However, neither the switch into (hypo)mania induction rate nor the suicide risk linked to AD use are definitely established. The effectiveness of long-term AD use is limited to highly selected samples of patients with positive acute response. The risk of long-term ADs causing cycle acceleration and rapid cycling induction concerns a subpopulation of patients. Valid alternatives to ADs in treating acute BP depression are quetiapine, an olanzapine–fluoxetine combination, and electroconvulsive therapy for more severe patients. Lamotrigine is effective and safe in preventing depressive relapses. Psychotherapy and psychoeducation represent effective adjunctive treatments. Conclusion: In the treatment of BP depression there is not a specific effective treatment for all the patients. Interventions should therefore be personalised and the scientific evidence should be adapted to each patient's clinical features.
Progressive caloric restriction induces dose-dependent changes in myocardial triglyceride content and diastolic function in healthy men.

CONTEXT In animal experiments, high plasma concentrations of free fatty acids (FFAs) are associated with increased triglyceride (TG) stores in liver and heart, and impaired cardiac function. In humans caloric restriction increases plasma FFA levels. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to assess the effects of progressive caloric restriction on myocardial and hepatic TG content and myocardial function. DESIGN This was a prospective intervention study. PARTICIPANTS This study included 10 lean healthy men. INTERVENTIONS Three-day partial (471 kcal/d) and complete starvation was performed. OUTCOME MEASURES Plasma levels of FFA, myocardial and hepatic TG content, and myocardial function were calculated. RESULTS Plasma FFA increased from 0.6 +/- 0.4 mmol/liter to 1.2 +/- 0.4 and to 1.9 +/- 0.7 mmol/liter, after partial and complete starvation, respectively (P < 0.001). Myocardial TG content increased from 0.35 +/- 0.14% to 0.59 +/- 0.27%, and 1.26 +/- 0.49%, respectively (P < 0.01). The ratio between the early diastole and atrial contraction decreased from 2.2 +/- 0.4 to 2.1 +/- 0.4 (P = 0.7) and 1.8 +/- 0.4, respectively (P < 0.01), and diastolic early deceleration from 3.4 +/- 0.7 ml/sec(2) x 10(-3) to 2.9 +/- 0.5 and 2.8 +/- 0.9 ml/sec(2) x 10(-3), respectively (P < 0.05). Hepatic TG content decreased after partial starvation (from 2.23 +/- 2.24% to 1.43 +/- 1.33%; P < 0.05) but did not change upon complete starvation. CONCLUSIONS Progressive caloric restriction induces a dose-dependent increase in myocardial TG content and a dose-dependent decrease in diastolic function in lean healthy men. Hepatic TG content showed a differential response to progressive caloric restriction, indicating that redistribution of endogenous TG stores is tissue specific.