Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decreasing, Null and Increasing Effects of Eight Popular Types of Ginseng on Acute Postprandial Glycemic Indices in Healthy Humans: The Role of Ginsenosides

Background: It is unclear whether other ginseng sources can replicate the glycemic-lowering efficacy observed previously with American ginseng and whether ginsenosides are mediators. We assessed the effect of eight popular ginseng types on postprandial plasma glucose (PG) and insulin (PI) indices, linking effects to ginsenoside profiles. Methods: Using a double-blind, randomized, multiple-crossover design, 12 healthy participants (gender: 6M:6F, age: 34 ± 3 y, BMI: 25.8 ± 1.2 kg/m2) received 10 3g treatments: American, American-wild, Asian, Asian-red, Vietnamese-wild, Siberian, Japanese-rhizome, and Sanchi ginsengs and two placebos. Each treatment was given 40-minutes before a 75g-oral-glucose-tolerance-test (75g-OGTT) with blood drawn at −40, 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120-minutes. HPLC-UV analysis quantified seven principal ginsenosides. Results: Two-factor analysis showed the main effects of ginseng-type and time were significant for PG and PI, with an interaction for PG (p < 0.05). Subsequent one-factor analysis showed an effect of ginseng-type on 90-min-PG and 90-min-PI (p < 0.05). This was reflected in effects on peak-PG, area under the curve (AUC)-PG and AUC-PI (p < 0.05). But the effect on 90-min-PI and AUC-PI were significant (p < 0.05) only in overweight participants (BMI > 25 kg/m2, n = 6). Planned comparisons with placebo showed a tendency for American ginseng and Vietnamese ginseng to lower 90-min-PG (p < 0.06), while Asian ginseng raised peak-PG and AUC-PG, American-wild ginseng raised 120-min-PG, and Siberian ginseng raised 90-min-PG, 120-min-PG, and AUC-PG (p < 0.05). Stepwise-multiple-regression assessed the protopanaxadiol:protopanaxatriol (PPD:PPT)-ginsenoside ratio as the sole predictor (p < 0.05) for 90-min-PG (β = −0.43, r2 = 0.072), AUC-PG (β = −0.25, r2 = 0.06), 90-min-PI (β = −0.26, r2 = 0.065), AUC-PI (β = −0.20, r2 = 0.04). Conclusions: Ginseng has variable glycemic effects, in which the PPD:PPT-ginsenoside ratio might be involved. But the low variance explained suggests the involvement of other unmeasured ginsenoside or non-ginsenoside components.
Organization Culture Impact on Sudanese Construction Project performance

Traditionally, construction industry is attributed of being fragmented, risky, fluctuated, complex, associated with antagonism, blame culture, short term mentality and poor communication. All enthroned as poor performance. Sudanese construction industry is believed to exhibit no exception of that. Sudanese construction industry is an industry that operates in an economically, politically and socially turbulent developing country environment. Organizational culture, as a mean of internal integration and external adoption, is deemed by many scholars and professionals to be one of the main theoretical levers for organizational performance enhancement. Thus, it is essential to articulate how organizational culture can enhance construction project performance in Sudanese context. This research study sought to tackle the identified research gap in the literature concerning the empirical linkage between organizational culture and the construction project performance in Sudanese context. Descriptive quantitative research methodology was adopted in the study; quantitative/statistical methods were exercised to capture the proposed empirical link. Self-administrated survey (questionnaire) was the main tool used to collect required data. SPSS version (21) software was used to analyze the data. The key finding of the study was: Organizational cultures selected dimensions (people and leadership, processes and systems, information management and business focus) of Sudanese construction industry projects are significantly correlated with organizational outcomes (performance). This research concluded that there is a proven empirical relationship between organization culture and construction project performance in Sudanese context. Furthermore, generated models provide practical implications and an aiding tool for projects managers/stakeholders to improve desired practices in order to enhance project performance.
Retained Stimulating Perineural Catheters: A Report of Four Cases

Background: As the use of ambulatory continuous peripheral nerve blocks continues to grow, new management issues will inevitably arise. Previous descriptions of difficult catheter removal due to cutting, knotting, or kinking of the catheter have involved inpatients. A series of retained ambulatory interscalene catheters has recently been reported. Methods: We present a series of 4 retained stimulating perineural catheters, which could not be removed though the catheters appeared intact and not significantly bent on plain radiographs. We discuss the potential aspects of our block technique and the catheters' design that may have complicated their removal, as well as our management of these patients. Conclusions: Stimulating perineural catheters may be difficult to remove. This may be particularly problematic for outpatients removing the catheters at home.
Spectrum of 18F-FDG PET/CT findings in oncology-related recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy.

OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to review recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) anatomy and describe the typical (18)F-FDG (FDG) PET/CT appearance of vocal cord paresis due to oncology-related RLN injury including a spectrum of presentations, causes, and sites of nerve injury. CONCLUSION Oncology-related RLN palsy may be caused by direct tumor invasion or its therapy. FDG PET/CT findings should be recognized to avoid misdiagnosis. Laryngoscopy confirms the suspected diagnosis and excludes primary vocal cord neoplasm.
Production and Operations Management

Heizer, J. & Render, B. Operations Management. 9 ed., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008. Make sure that the textbook you purchase comes with the student video library (3 disks) as well as the student CD-ROM. Optional; however, students in the past have found these interactive tutorials useful. Textbooks are available through the NMSU bookstore: (http://www.nmsubookstore.com/nmsu/) You may want to try to purchase the textbook through another website to hopefully save money, although there is no guarantee when the book will arrive. I recommend www.bigwords. com.
Iodination of annexin V for imaging apoptosis.

UNLABELLED Our goal in this investigation was to develop a method for iodinating annexin V that would be suitable for the in vivo detection of apoptosis. METHODS Annexin V was iodinated with (125)I using 2 different techniques: direct iodination with IODO-BEADS, resulting in the iodination of tyrosine residues; and use of the Bolton-Hunter reagent, which binds to lysine. The active fraction of the labeled preparation was purified by affinity chromatography. We assessed thyroid accumulation of free iodide by comparing mice with blocked and unblocked thyroids. We tested the ability of iodinated annexin V to bind apoptotic cells in vitro using irradiated neuroblastoma cells and immobilized phosphatidylserine and in vivo using C3H mice subjected to whole-body irradiation. RESULTS The efficiency of IODO-BEADS iodination was just below 30%; with the Bolton-Hunter protocol we were able to achieve 40% efficiency. When the IODO-BEADS-labeled preparation was injected into nude mice, activity accumulated rapidly in the thyroid. Two hours after injection, uptake in the thyroid region was clearly visible on a gamma-camera scan. This uptake was absent in mice that had had their thyroids blocked. We concluded that the IODO-BEADS method of labeling resulted in a protein that was rapidly deiodinated in vivo. By contrast, when annexin V was labeled using the Bolton-Hunter protocol, there was no evidence of activity accumulating in the thyroid. The Bolton-Hunter-labeled annexin V bound to apoptotic cells and immobilized phosphatidylserine in vitro. The active fraction of Bolton-Hunter-labeled annexin V was approximately 0.75. In C3H mice given 5-Gy whole-body irradiation, there was a significant induction of apoptosis in the spleen, as measured by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling assay, and a 4-fold increase in (125)I activity in the spleens relative to that of the control animals. CONCLUSION Direct iodination of annexin V on tyrosine residues is a poor technique suffering from rapid deiodination in vivo. With Bolton-Hunter chemistry, one can produce a molecule that retains its label in vivo and binds to apoptotic cells in vitro and in vivo.
Properties of a hyperpolarization‐activated cation current and its role in rhythmic oscillation in thalamic relay neurones.

1. The physiological and functional features of time‐dependent anomalous rectification activated by hyperpolarization and the current which underlies it, Ih, were examined in guinea‐pig and cat thalamocortical relay neurones using in vitro intracellular recording techniques in thalamic slices. 2. Hyperpolarization of the membrane from rest with a constant‐current pulse resulted in time‐dependent rectification, expressed as a depolarizing sag of the membrane potential back towards rest. Under voltage clamp conditions, hyperpolarizing steps to membrane potentials negative to approximately ‐60 mV were associated with the activation of a slow inward current, Ih, which showed no inactivation with time. 3. The activation curve of the conductance underlying Ih was obtained through analysis of tail currents and ranged from ‐60 to ‐90 mV, with half‐activation occurring at ‐75 mV. The time course of activation of Ih was well fitted by a single‐exponential function and was strongly voltage dependent, with time constants ranging from greater than 1‐2 s at threshold to an average of 229 ms at ‐95 mV. The time course of de‐activation was also described by a single‐exponential function, was voltage dependent, and the time constant ranged from an average of 1000 ms at ‐80 mV to 347 ms at ‐55 mV. 4. Raising [K+]o from 2.5 to 7.5 mM enhanced, while decreasing [Na+]o from 153 to 26 mM reduced, the amplitude of Ih. In addition, reduction of [Na+]o slowed the rate of Ih activation. These results indicate that Ih is carried by both Na+ and K+ ions, which is consistent with the extrapolated reversal potential of ‐43 mV. Replacement of Cl‐ in the bathing medium with isethionate shifted the chloride equilibrium potential positive by approximately 30‐70 mV, evoked an inward shift of the holding current at ‐50 mV, and resulted in a marked reduction of instantaneous currents as well as Ih, suggesting a non‐specific blocking action of impermeable anions. 5. Local (2‐10 mM in micropipette) or bath (1‐2 mM) applications of Cs+ abolished Ih over the whole voltage range tested (‐60 to ‐110 mV), with no consistent effects on instantaneous currents. Barium (1 mM, local; 0.3‐0.5 mM, bath) evoked a steady inward current, reduced the amplitude of instantaneous currents, and had only weak suppressive effects on Ih. 6. Block of Ih with local application of Cs+ resulted in a hyperpolarization of the membrane from the resting level, a decrease in apparent membrane conductance, and a block of the slow after‐hyperpolarization that appears upon termination of depolarizing membrane responses, indicating that Ih contributes substantially to the resting and active membrane properties of thalamocortical relay neurones. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Tsetse immune responses and trypanosome transmission: Implications for the development of tsetse-based strategies to reduce trypanosomiasis

Tsetse flies are the medically and agriculturally important vectors of African trypanosomes. Information on the molecular and biochemical nature of the tsetse/trypanosome interaction is lacking. Here we describe three antimicrobial peptide genes, attacin, defensin, and diptericin, from tsetse fat body tissue obtained by subtractive cloning after immune stimulation with Escherichia coli and trypanosomes. Differential regulation of these genes shows the tsetse immune system can discriminate not only between molecular signals specific for bacteria and trypanosome infections but also between different life stages of trypanosomes. The presence of trypanosomes either in the hemolymph or in the gut early in the infection process does not induce transcription of attacin and defensin significantly. After parasite establishment in the gut, however, both antimicrobial genes are expressed at high levels in the fat body, apparently not affecting the viability of parasites in the midgut. Unlike other insect immune systems, the antimicrobial peptide gene diptericin is constitutively expressed in both fat body and gut tissue of normal and immune stimulated flies, possibly reflecting tsetse immune responses to the multiple Gram-negative symbionts it naturally harbors. When flies were immune stimulated with bacteria before receiving a trypanosome containing bloodmeal, their ability to establish infections was severely blocked, indicating that up-regulation of some immune responsive genes early in infection can act to block parasite transmission. The results are discussed in relation to transgenic approaches proposed for modulating vector competence in tsetse.
Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise improves sleep quality in men older adults

The purpose of present research was to investigate the effect of low and moderate intensity aerobic exercises on sleep quality in older adults. The statistical sample included 45 volunteer elderly men with age range of 60-70 years old that divided randomly in two experimental groups (aerobic exercise with low and moderate intensity) and one control group. The maximum heart rate (MaxHR) of subjects was obtained by subtracting one's age from 220. Furthermore, based on aerobic exercise type (40-50% MaxHR for low intensity group and 60-70% MaxHR for moderate intensity group) the target MaxHR was calculated for each subject. The exercise protocol consisted of 8 weeks aerobic exercises (2 sessions in per-week) based on Rockport one-mile walking/running test and the control group continued their daily activities. All subjects in per-test and post-test stages were completed the Petersburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results in post-test stage showed that there were significant differences between control and experimental groups in sleep quality and its components (P<0.05). Also, the Tukey Post Hoc showed that the moderate intensity group scores in sleep quality and its components were better than other groups (P<0.05). Finally, the low intensity group scores were better than control group (P<0.05). Generally, the present research showed that the aerobic exercises with moderate intensity have a positive and significant effect on sleep quality and its components. Thus, based on these findings, the moderate intensity aerobic exercises as a useful and medical method for improve the sleep quality among community older adults was recommended.
Does Norges Bank's trading in the foreign exchange market on behalf of the government affect the NOK exchange rate?

3 1 Table of contents . 4 Acknowledgements . 5 2 Introduction . 6 2.1 Research question . 7 3 Background and relevant literature . 9 3.1 Petroleum mechanism . 9 3.2 Order flow theory . 11 4 Methodology and data . 13 4.1 Order flow data . 13 4.2 Oil price. 19 4.3 Interest rates . 21 4.4 Foreign exchange rates. 25 4.5 Empirical model . 27 5 Analysis. 28 6 Results. 35 7 Conclusion. 42 References . 44 Appendix . 47 A Figures . 47 B Graphs . 48 C Tables. 52 D Literature review . 55 E Data collection . 67
A Systematic review of the effectiveness of benchmarks in social marketing initiatives focused on reduction of disability due to back pain

Back pain is a leading cause of disability and stress on the health care system. Back pain injury is costly to employers, leads to absenteeism in the workplace, and disrupts the lives of those suffering from back pain symptoms. Education to stay active despite symptoms is recommended as a key management strategy. Social marketing can be used to promote behavior change by encouraging interventions such as increased physical activity. This could reduce recovery time and prevent further injury. A systematic review of published articles relating to back pain disability reduction interventions was conducted to analyze the effectiveness of these interventions to assess presence of benchmarks using a social marketing framework. Findings revealed that augmented product is necessary, but not a sufficiently effective benchmark to create behavior change. The findings of this study build knowledge of social marketing and allow us to understand how to effectively promote back pain prevention behaviors.
Thermal Impacts of Electromagnetic Proximity Effects in Induction Cooking System With Distributed Planar Multicoils

This paper investigates the thermal impacts of electromagnetic proximity effects among the coils of domestic induction heating system (DIHS) with distributed planar spiral multicoils. A combined coordinates system is developed in the computation, consisting of a master Cartesian coordinate system and multiple slave cylindrical coordinate systems. The proposed computing method is implemented with different effecting parameters so as to analyze the impacts of proximity effects and eddy currents distribution in the DIHS. Computation results are validated through comparing against those from the finite element method (FEM). Furthermore, the temperature field is calculated to study the thermal impacts of proximity effects on the thermal distribution in the induction plate.
The weight of the eyeballs in the guinea pig

Most of the weights of the eyeballs given in the literature are for only a few specimens and not enough for statistical treatment. In many cases the weights in grams are given without the total body weight, so that the relative weights cannot be compared. The growth of the eyeballs in the guinea pig has been studied by Bessesen and Carlson ('23) and the weights of the eyeballs from 12 male guinea pigs are given by Crile and Quiring ( '40). The growth of the eyeballs iii the albino rat is given by Jackson ('13), and the growth of the human eye, including some data on the adult eye, has been reported by Scainmon and Armstrong ('23). Latimer ( '25, '27, '38) has given the weights of the eyeballs in the chicken, turkey and the adult cat. IIuch of the literature on the weights of the eyeballs is reviewed by Oppenheim ( '47) and by Steindorf ( '47). Crile and Quiring ('40) give the weights of the eyeballs f o r many animals of widely different species, but in most cases there are only a few speciniens of each species. This series of guinea pig eyes is larger than any series of adult eyes of a single species found so far in the literature, and it is hoped that it will contribute not only to our knowledge of the variability in weights and percentage weights, but as well give some idea of the correlations with some of the other organs.
Transformation Based Polynomial Model: In Case of Generating Orthophoto

Abstract A new approach for generating orthophoto based on polynomial models is proposed. Polynomial plays a key role in proposed transformation from 3D to 2D; meanwhile the Efficiency Index measures the accuracy of the results of orthophoto. Airborne laser and aerial photograph were two data sources for researching. Both manual and automatic functions were employed to assist and improve modes of gathering and increasing control points. Height constraint was considered in order to increase the accuracy of generating orthophoto. It was block processing as recursive applied for smaller area, when the accuracy of whole area or prior area was not accepted. Finally orthophoto with its accepted accuracy was produced. It can be summarized that polynomials could assist to generate orthophoto with acceptable accuracy (R2>0.990) of output, which could further be increased with greater control points by recursive block processing.
Epidermal coumaroyl anthocyanins protect sweet basil against excess light stress: multiple consequences of light attenuation.

The putative photoprotective role of foliar anthocyanins continues to attract heated debate. Strikingly different experimental set-ups coupled with a poor knowledge of anthocyanin identity have likely contributed to such disparate opinions. Here, the photosynthetic responses to 30 or 100% solar irradiance were compared in two cultivars of basil, the green-leafed Tigullio (TG) and the purple-leafed Red Rubin (RR). Coumaroyl anthocyanins in RR leaf epidermis significantly mitigated the effects of high light stress. In full sunlight, RR leaves displayed several shade-plant traits; they transferred less energy than did TG to photosystem II (PSII), and non-photochemical quenching was lower. The higher xanthophyll cycle activity in TG was insufficient to prevent inactivation of PSII in full sunlight. However, TG was the more efficient in the shade; RR was far less able to accommodate a large change in irradiance. Investment of carbon to phenylpropanoid biosynthesis was more in RR than in TG in the shade, and was either greatly enhanced in TG or varied little in RR because of high sunlight. The metabolic cost of photoprotection was lower whereas light-induced increase in biomass production was higher in RR than in TG, thus making purple basil the more light tolerant. Purple basil appears indeed to display the conservative resource-use strategy usually observed in highly stress tolerant species. We conclude that the presence of epidermal coumaroyl anthocyanins confers protective benefits under high light, but it is associated with a reduced plasticity to accommodate changing light fluxes as compared with green leaves.
Strengthening customer relationship in the social media era. The importance of customer relationship orientation and customer knowledge management

Social media enable firms to better involve customers in co-creation and innovation processes, and to improve customer knowledge management to achieve greater performance. The study analyzes the net effect of customer relationship orientation through customer collaboration and customer role in innovation on customer knowledge management and on customer relationship performance, as outcomes, in the social media context. In order to empirically investigate the proposed research model, data collected from an online survey administered to 418 managers are processed with structural equation modeling. Findings suggest some detailed insights about the importance of engaging customers in value co-creation and innovation processes in order to gain a competitive advantage. Results contribute to both the theoretical and practical knowledge addressing the call for further research useful to improve the current understanding of the impact of customer relationship orientation on firm performance and highlighting the role played by social media in collecting customer-related knowledge.
Analysis of reflection gratings by means of a matrix method approach

This work was supported by the "Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion" of Spain under projects FIS2008-05856-C02-01 and FIS2008-05856-C02-02, and by the "Generalitat Valenciana" of Spain under project PROMETEO/2011/021.