Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Apoflavodoxin (un) folding followed at the residue level by NMR

The denaturant‐induced (un)folding of apoflavodoxin from Azotobacter vinelandii has been followed at the residue level by NMR spectroscopy. NH groups of 21 residues of the protein could be followed in a series of 1H‐15N heteronuclear single‐quantum coherence spectra recorded at increasing concentrations of guanidinium hydrochloride despite the formation of protein aggregate. These NH groups are distributed throughout the whole apoflavodoxin structure. The midpoints of unfolding determined by NMR coincide with the one obtained by fluorescence emission spectroscopy. Both techniques give rise to unfolding curves with transition zones at significantly lower denaturant concentrations than the one obtained by circular dichroism spectroscopy. The NMR (un)folding data support a mechanism for apoflavodoxin folding in which a relatively stable intermediate is involved. Native apoflavodoxin is shown to cooperatively unfold to a molten globule‐like state with extremely broadened NMR resonances. This initial unfolding step is slow on the NMR chemical shift timescale. The subsequent unfolding of the molten globule is faster on the NMR chemical shift timescale and the limited appearance of 1H‐15N HSQC cross peaks of unfolded apoflavodoxin in the denaturant range studied indicates that it is noncooperative.
Attenuation of lipopolysaccharide‐induced hyperreactivity of human internal mammary arteries by melatonin

Abstract: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are thought to be important mediators in ischaemia/reperfusion injury following coronary vasospasm. The most ubiquitous action of melatonin is that of a free radical scavenger. Therefore, we investigated the action of melatonin by monitoring changes in the tone on ring preparations from human internal mammary arteries (IMA). In quiescent IMA rings melatonin (0.1 nm–10 μm) never elicited any change in baseline tension but 1–100 nm melatonin enhanced significantly maximal responses to noradrenaline (NA) in arteries with endothelial function. In NA (1 μm) precontracted arteries inhibition of nitric oxide (NO•) formation by NG‐monomethyl‐l‐arginine (l‐NMMA, 100 and 400 μm) eliminated 43 ± 7 and 61 ± 7% of the acetylcholine (ACH) effect. Melatonin (100 and 400 nm) attenuated maximal endothelium‐dependent relaxant responses to ACH slightly by 23 ± 9 and 17 ± 9% leaving responses to direct stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase by sodium nitroprusside unchanged. Incubation of IMA for 20 hr at 37°C with 1 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS) enhanced maximal NA effects to 147 ± 18% (n = 22, P < 0.01) whereas 50 μg/mL LPS reduced the NA maxima to 68 ± 9% (n = 10, P < 0.01) of the control effects. The LPS‐induced potentiation was completely attenuated by coincubation with melatonin (400 nm) and significantly reduced by coincubation with the thromboxane synthase inhibitor dazoxiben (10 μm). It is suggested that the LPS‐induced hyperreactivity of vascular smooth muscle is mediated through enhanced release of ROS and prostanoids and that melatonin inhibits the vascular hyperreactivity through selective scavenging of ROS.
Expression of Insulin Signaling Transmitters and Glucose Transporters at the Protein Level in the Rat Testis

Abstract: Insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins are key mediators in insulin signaling from the insulin receptor. It takes place through receptor‐mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS proteins. The aim of the present article is to demonstrate the distribution of IRS 1–3, glucose transporters 1–4 (GLUT 1–4), signal regulatory protein 1α (SIRP1α), PKB, and PI 3‐kinase in the rat testis to see if signal transduction mediated by these proteins is active in testicular cells. Wistar rats were used as donors of testis tissue. Expression of these genes was studied at the protein level by using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. IRS‐1, IRS‐2, GLUT 1, GLUT 2, GLUT 3, and SIRP1α were strongly expressed in the Sertoli cells (except GLUT 1), early spermatocytes, peritubular myoid cells, macrophage‐like interstitial cells, and testicular endothelial cells in all the testes investigated by immunohistochemistry. IRS‐2 was also expressed in the Leydig cells. Immunoblotting experiments demonstrated the presence of about 26–67 kDa reactive with anti‐ IRS‐1, IRS‐2, GLUT 1, GLUT 2, GLUT 3, PKB, and SIRP1α. The present results suggest that proteins like insulin and certain cytokines using IRS‐1, IRS‐2, GLUT 1, GLUT 2, GLUT 3, PKB, and SIRP1α in their signal transduction can have effects on the different types of testicular cells in the rat.
The effect of resource stoichiometry on fish and macroinvertebrate nutrient excretion

Consumer-driven nutrient cycling has been shown to be an important process in supplying inorganic nutrients to autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms in aquatic ecosystems. Theory indicates that consumer nutrient excretion is influenced primarily by an organism’s nutrient composition; however, an organism’s diet should also play an important role in nutrient excretion, especially if the consumer is nutrient limited. This study asks the question, how does diet influence nutrient excretion of consumers at different trophic levels? Macroinvertebrates and fish were collected from six streams and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) excretion were quantified. Epilithon, leaf detritus, and seston (fine particulate organic matter in transport) were collected and analyzed for carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) content in an attempt to qualitatively assess the nutritional status of the diet of primary consumers. Macroinvertebrates were also analyzed for C, N, and P content to assess their nutritional composition in relation to their excretion and also to assess the nutritional composition of the diet of predatory insects and fish. Fish were also analyzed for C, N, and P. Similar to theoretical predictions, fish and macroinvertebrate P excretion was negatively related to P content and the N:P excretion ratio was negatively related to the body N:P ratio. However, this relationship was driven primarily by two phosphorus rich species, mottled sculpin in the fish and crayfish in the macroinvertebrates. Some relationships did emerge between consumer excretion and diet. For example, hydropsychid caddisflies had the highest macroinvertebrate P excretion, possibly explained by the low N:P of seston. However, shredders, eating on a very low N and P diet of leaf detritus, had very low N and P excretion. The relationship between consumers, their food, and nutrient excretion is a matter of mass balance. If the food N:P ratio is higher than that of the consumer, then the N:P excretion should be higher than the consumer N:P and the food N:P, especially if organisms are P-limited. However, N:P excretion by macroinvertebrates and fish were very similar despite large differences in diet. The majority of macroinvertebrates and fish had a lower N:P excretion ratio than the predicted N:P of their food, possibly indicating that 1) consumers were either selectively consuming more P-rich foods than the diets that I assigned them or 2) consumers are generally not N or P limited or influenced by the N or P in their diet. Mottled sculpin and crayfish were the only organisms with a higher N:P excretion than their resources and both had a higher %P than the other fish and macroinvertebrates, respectively. High N:P excretion along with high phosphorus content is indicative of P-limitation. Macroinvertebrates and fish, excluding mottled sculpin and crayfish, had a lower N:P excretion and the N:P ratio of the water column. If consumers do play a role in nutrient dynamics, then consumers could alter the relative abundance of nitrogen and phosphorus by supplying more phosphorus. However, the
Effect of Different Brooding Techniques on Production Performance and Physiological Parameters of Broiler

This study was conducted to compare the effect of different brooding techniques on production performance and physiological parameters of broilers. One hundred eighty day-old broiler chicks were purchased from a local hatchery and were randomly divided into 9 experimental units (replicate) of 20 chicks each. These units were further allotted to three treatments (A, B, & C) having three replicates each. Brooding in treatment A, B and C was conducted by using Electric heating, Gas and Wood respectively as fuel sources in three separate rooms of same specifications. All the experimental birds were provided standard husbandry conditions like light, space, ventilation and relative humidity, the data regarding body weight, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, mortality and incidence of ascites and other pathological conditions was recorded. Respiration rate, rectal temperature and room temperature were recorded daily. At the end of experiment two birds from each replicate were randomly picked up and slaughtered for dressing percentage and relative weights of liver, lungs, heart, gizzard and spleen. Blood serum samples were collected to check, glucose, cholesterol and antibody titer against Newcastle and Gumboro diseases. Analysis of variance showed a highly significant difference with respect to weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio, respiration rate (morning and evening), antibody titer against ND and IBD at 21 & 42 days of the chicks. Statistical analysis of the data also revealed non-significant effect of treatments on the average values of dressing %age, liver, heart, gizzard, spleen and lungs weight, rectal temperature (morning & evening), serum cholesterol and glucose level at 42-days of age. The production cost per broiler was 98.02, 93.32, and 101.5 Rs. in birds kept under A (Electric), B (Gas) and C (Wood) brooding systems, respectively. The net profit per bird was found to be 18.98 (Electric), 23.08 (Gas) and 12.3 Rs. in (Wood) brooding system respectively.
Physics of Karate. Kinematics analysis of karate techniques by a digital movie camera

In this paper it is shown the kinematics and dynamics analysis of karate techniques by a digital movie camera. This method is very easy to use with student of High School and it allows them to improve their physical insight and problem solving skills, helps them to understand the difference between the theoretical model and the real system.
Construction of plasmids that express E. coli beta-galactosidase in mammalian cells.

We have constructed pUC19 based plasmids capable of expressing E.coli beta-galactosidase (p-Gal) under the control of different viral promoters in mammalian cells. In addition, each vector contains an RNA splice signal, a polyadenylylation signal and a unique Not I site from which the ,8-Gal gene may be excised and into which alternative DNA coding sequences may be cloned. These vectors generated between 7.3 u/mg cell extract (see (1) for unit def. ) (pAdo) and 2530.0 u (pCMVp) of p- Gal activity following transfection into human 293 cells and between 11.8 u (pAdp) and 116.1 u (pSVp) following electroporation of human Raji lymphoblastoid cells. These vectors have utility - as reference plasmids when transfecting other reporter gene constructs (1); in optimising conditions for electroporation of cells and analysis of gene expression in vivo when used in conjunction with a histochemical stain (2); as "enhancer-trap" vectors and in analysing the effect of cis acting elements and trans acting factors on these and alternative promoter elements when used in conjunction with a viable stain for 1-Gal (3) and a fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS).
Anxiety symptoms during late pregnancy and early parenthood following assisted reproductive technology

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the relationship between assisted reproduction technology (ART) and anxiety symptoms during late pregnancy and early parenthood. Method: Women with ART pregnancies were prospectively compared to their partners and to women with spontaneous pregnancies. The sample of 87 subjects, 48 ART (25 mothers and 23 fathers) and 39 non-ART mothers were given the ASQ-IPAT Anxiety Scale at 30–32 weeks of gestation, and at one week and three months after delivery. Results: The main socio-demographic and obstetrical characteristics were similar between groups. ART women showed higher scores for latent anxiety than non-ART women at three months after birth and showed no difference from ART men in all assessments. Manifest anxiety scores in ART women were higher, compared to non-ART women during the third trimester of pregnancy and one week after birth and were higher in all assessments when compared to ART men. Overall level of anxiety was higher in ART women in all assessments when compared to non-ART women and higher than in ART men during the two postnatal assessments. Conclusion: We confirm the higher level of anxiety that characterizes the pregnancy-birth process in ART pregnancies. In addition, the higher manifest anxiety present before delivery and one week post-partum can be explained by the special nature of these pregnancies. Psychological support should be offered to ART patients because anxiety is an important risk factor for maternal post-partum depression and can lead to negative effects on the neonate and on child emotional and behavioral development.
Functional traits are more variable at the intra- than inter-population level: a study of four calcareous dry-grassland plant species

The majority of studies investigating plant functional traits have used species average trait values, and assumed that average values were sufficiently representative of each species considered. Although this approach has proven valuable in community ecology studies, plant functional traits can significantly vary at different scales, i.e. between but also within populations. The study of species functional trait variability can facilitate increasingly accurate studies in community ecology. Nevertheless, the current extent of within-site plant trait variability has been poorly addressed in the literature. Calcareous grasslands are ecosystems well-suited to study plant trait variation at small spatial scales. Many species are present on heterogeneous calcareous sites, with significant differences in hydric status due to variations in soil depth, soil moisture, aspect, and slope. This study assesses the extent of intra-population functional trait variability and tests the hypothesis that this variability can be explained by within-site environmental heterogeneity. Three functional traits (SLA-specific leaf area, LDMC-leaf dry matter content, and plant vegetative height) were assessed in three populations of four calcareous grassland species totalling 950 individuals. The heterogeneity in soil depth and potential direct incident radiation was also quantified and related to plant functional trait variability. The intra-population functional trait variability was compared to the inter-population variability of collected data and global inter-population variability data obtained from the worldwide TRY functional traits database. The results showed that SLA, LDMC, and plant height are characterized by considerable intra-population variation (SLA: 72–95%, LDMC: 78–100% and vegetative height: 70–94% of trait variability). The results also indicate higher plant height and larger SLA for individuals located in plots with deeper soils or lower potential direct incident radiation, on gentle slopes or north-facing slopes. Our findings additionally support the concept that higher plant height, higher SLA, and lower LDMC are related to higher availability of soil water. Individuals on shallow soils or in more exposed areas are better equipped to cope with environmental stress. Our results indicate plasticity or local adaptation in individuals to environmental heterogeneity. This study suggests that detailed analyses involving plant functional traits require measurements in situ from a large number of individuals, as the degree of individual response strongly depends on an individual’s location and its micro-environmental conditions. Neglecting intra-population trait variability may be critical, as intraspecific variation can be very high at the population scale, and is likely to be driven by local environmental heterogeneity. Manuscript received 26 November 2015, accepted 29 April 2016 Co-ordinating Editor: Thomas Becker 322
Nutritional, Physiological, and Perceptual Responses During a Summer Ultraendurance Cycling Event

Armstrong, LE, Casa, DJ, Emmanuel, H, Ganio, MS, Klau, JF, Lee, EC, Maresh, CM, McDermott, BP, Stearns, RL, Vingren, JL, Wingo, JE, Williamson, KH, and Yamamoto, LM. Nutritional, physiological, and perceptual responses during a summer ultraendurance cycling event. J Strength Cond Res 26(2): 307–318, 2012—Despite the rapid growth of mass participation road cycling, little is known about the dietary, metabolic, and behavioral responses of ultraendurance cyclists. This investigation describes physiological responses, perceptual ratings, energy balance, and macronutrient intake of 42 men (mean ± SD; age, 38 ± 6 years; height, 179.7 ± 7.1 cm; body mass, 85.85 ± 14.79 kg) and 6 women (age, 41 ± 4 years; height, 168.0 ± 2.9 cm; body mass, 67.32 ± 7.21 kg) during a summer 164-km road cycling event. Measurements were recorded 1 day before, and on the Event Day (10.5 hours) at the start (0 km), at 2 aid stations (52 and 97 km), and at the finish line (164 km). The ambient temperature was >39.0° C during the final 2 hours of exercise. The mean finish times for men (9.1 ± 1.2 hours) and women (9.0 ± 0.2 hours) were similar, as were mean gastrointestinal temperature (TGI), 4 hydration biomarkers, and 5 perceptual (e.g., thermal, thirst, pain) ratings. Male cyclists consumed enough fluids on the Event Day (5.91 ± 2.38 L; 49% water) to maintain body mass within 0.76 kg, start to finish, despite a sweat loss of 1.13 ± 0.54 L·h−1 and calculated energy expenditure of 3,115 kcal·10.5·h−1. However, men voluntarily underconsumed food energy (deficit of 2,594 kcal, 10.9 MJ) and specific macronutrients (carbohydrates, 106 ± 48 g; protein, 8 ± 7 g; and sodium, 852 ± 531 mg) between 0530 and 1400 hours. Also, a few men exhibited extreme final values (i.e., urine specific gravity of 1.035–1.038, n = 5; body mass loss >4 kg, n = 2; TGI, 39.4 and 40.2°C). We concluded that these findings provide information regarding energy consumption, macronutrient intake, hydration status, and the physiological stresses that are unique to ultraendurance exercise in a hot environment.
Face-specific N170 component is modulated by facial expressional change

We examined processing of change in facial expression. Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were elicited by successive presentation of two different faces without interval. Smile faces were preceded by either a neutral face of the same person, a smile face of a different person, or a neutral face of a different person, which generated expressional, individual, or both expressional and individual change, respectively. For the preceding faces, there were no differences in face-specific N170. In contrast, the second faces elicited a larger N170 for expressional change relative to individual or both changes, which indicates that facial expression was processed in the early stage of face processing in the posterior temporal region, when they are presented in change context.
Psoriatic lesional skin exhibits an aberrant expression pattern of interferon regulatory factor‐2 (IRF‐2)

Psoriasis is a T‐cell‐mediated inflammatory skin disease. A Th1 cytokine profile with increased levels of interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) is predominant in skin and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from psoriasis patients. Furthermore, psoriatic keratinocytes exhibit an aberrant sensitivity and response to IFN‐γ. The transcriptional activator interferon regulatory factor‐1 (IRF‐1) plays a crucial role in the activation of IFN‐γ‐induced gene expression. Recently it was shown that mice deficient in IRF‐2, a transcriptional repressor of IFN signalling and thereby acting as an IRF‐1 antagonist, display psoriasis‐like skin abnormalities. It was therefore hypothesized that a dysbalance between IRF‐1 and IRF‐2, the activator and repressor of IFN responses, respectively, contributes to the altered IFN‐γ signalling observed in patients with psoriasis. In the epidermis of patients with psoriasis and healthy controls, similar IRF‐1 and IRF‐2 mRNA expression levels were observed. Furthermore, it was not possible to detect any differences in IRF‐1 and IRF‐2 protein levels in nuclear extracts from the epidermis of controls and psoriasis patients by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and western blot analysis. Using double immunofluorescence labelling, it was observed that in normal skin IRF‐1 was expressed in keratinocytes throughout the epidermis, whereas IRF‐2 was restricted to the basal cell layer. In psoriatic skin, IRF‐1 expression was comparable to normal skin, whereas IRF‐2 was expressed in both basal and suprabasal cell layers. This altered IRF‐2 expression in suprabasal cell layers may therefore result in a dysbalance between the activator and repressor of IFN responses in these cell layers, putatively contributing to aberrant responses to IFN‐γ and eventually to the psoriatic skin phenotype. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The relative importance of facial attractiveness and gender in Hong Kong selection decisions

This field experiment found that Hong Kong human resources management specialists were influenced by the attractiveness bias in evaluating short-listed candidates for an entry-level trainee position. Zero order, stepwise and hierarchical regressions showed that perceived attractiveness of the candidates was more related to their work experience and work-related skills than to grade-point average and public examination results. Women candidates were generally preferred over male candidates. Further research is suggested to determine if the influence of attractiveness extends over a wider range of jobs and to measure more precisely the influence of attractiveness in different cultures and for men and women.
Effect of antisecretory factor in ulcerative colitis on histological and laborative outcome: a short period clinical trial

Background: The antisecretory factor (AF) is a 41 kD endogenously produced protein capable of mediating protection against diarrhoea diseases and intestinal inflammation. High concentrations of AF‐like proteins are present in egg yolk, and AF can consequently be administrated in the form of egg yolk drinks. In this study, performed in patients suffering from acute onset of ulcerative colitis (UC), we evaluate the influence of orally administrated AF on the histological and clinical laboratory outcome. Methods: A total of 20 patients fulfilled this prospective, double‐blind and randomized protocol. The intake of AF was used as an additive treatment to conventional UC medication. Patient registrations were extended to two outward visits, performed 2–4 and 8–12 weeks after hospital discharge. Results: During AF treatment, a reduction in the histological severity from mucosal biopsies received from the mid‐rectum was found. In addition, a lowering in the inflammatory blood parameters ESR, CRP and orosomucoid was demonstrated. Conclusion: In the AF‐treated group a late and significant lowering of various inflammatory parameters combined with a histological recovery was demonstrated. These findings suggest that administration of AF mediates a long‐lasting anti‐inflammatory effect in cases of acute UC.