Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Skeletal muscle glycogen concentration and metabolic responses following a high glycaemic carbohydrate breakfast

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of a carbohydrate-rich meal on post-prandial metabolic responses and skeletal muscle glycogen concentration. After an overnight fast, eight male recreational/club endurance runners ingested a carbohydrate (CHO) meal (2.5 g CHO · kg−1 body mass) and biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis muscle before and 3 h after the meal. Ingestion of the meal resulted in a 10.6 ± 2.5% (P < 0.05) increase in muscle glycogen concentration (pre-meal vs post-meal: 314.0 ± 33.9 vs 347.3 ± 31.3 mmol · kg−1 dry weight). Three hours after ingestion, mean serum insulin concentrations had not returned to pre-feeding values (0 min vs 180 min: 45 ± 4 vs 143 ± 21 pmol · l−1). On a separate occasion, six similar individuals ingested the meal or fasted for a further 3 h during which time expired air samples were collected to estimate the amount of carbohydrate oxidized over the 3 h post-prandial period. It was estimated that about 20% of the carbohydrate consumed was converted into muscle glycogen, and about 12 % was oxidized. We conclude that a meal providing 2.5 g CHO · kg−1 body mass can increase muscle glycogen stores 3 h after ingestion. However, an estimated 67% of the carbohydrate ingested was unaccounted for and this may have been stored as liver glycogen and/or still be in the gastrointestinal tract.
Redundant Roles for Nucleocapsid and Matrix RNA-Binding Sequences in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Assembly

ABSTRACT RNA appears to be required for the assembly of retroviruses. This is likely due to binding of RNA by multiple Gags, which in turn organizes and stabilizes the Gag-Gag interactions that form the virion. While the nucleocapsid (NC) domain is the most conspicuous RNA-binding region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Gag polyprotein, we have previously shown that NC is not strictly required for efficient particle production. To determine if an RNA requirement for HIV-1 assembly exists, we analyzed virions produced by an NC deletion mutant for the presence of RNA. The results revealed that virions without NC still contained significant amounts of RNA. Since these packaged RNAs are probably incorporated by other RNA-binding sequences in Gag, an RNA-binding site in the matrix protein (MA) of Gag was mutated. While this mutation did not interfere with HIV-1 replication, a construct with both MA and NC mutations (MX/NX) failed to produce particles. The MX/NX mutant was rescued in trans by coassembly with several forms of Gag: wild-type Gag, either of the single-mutant Gags, or Gag truncations that contain MA or NC sequences. Addition of basic sequences to the MX/NX mutant partially restored particle production, consistent with a requirement for Gag-RNA binding in addition to Gag-Gag interactions. Together, these results support an RNA-binding requirement for Gag assembly, which relies on binding of RNA by MA or NC sequences to condense, organize, and stabilize the HIV-1 Gag-Gag interactions that form the virion.
Expression of ryanodine receptor RyR3 produces Ca2+ sparks in dyspedic myotubes

1 Discrete, localized elevations of myoplasmic [Ca2+], Ca2+‘sparks’, were readily detected using the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fluo‐3 and laser scanning confocal microscopy in ‘dyspedic’ 1B5 myotubes, i.e. myotubes which do not express ryanodine receptors (RyRs), transduced with virions containing cDNA for RyR type 3 that were saponin permeabilized to allow dye entry. Ca2+ sparks were never observed in non‐transduced RyR null myotubes. 2 The spatial locations of sparks observed in permeabilized myotubes roughly corresponded to regions of RyR protein expression in the same myotube as detected after subsequent fixation and antibody staining. 3 Permeabilized RyR3‐transduced myotubes exhibited similar punctate peripheral RyR3 protein immunohistochemical patterns as myotubes fixed before permeabilization indicating that permeabilization did not affect the structural organization of the triad. 4 Ca2+ sparks, recorded in line scan mode, in permeabilized myotubes expressing RyR3 exhibited mean amplitudes (change in fluorescence/mean fluorescence, ΔF/F: 1.20 ± 0.04) and temporal rise times (10‐90 %; 6.31 ± 0.12 ms) similar to those of sparks recorded in permeabilized frog skeletal muscle fibres (0.98 ± 0.01; 6.11 ± 0.07, respectively) using the same confocal system. Spatial extent and temporal duration of the Ca2+ sparks were ≈40 % larger in the RyR3‐expressing myotube cultures than in frog fibres. 5 Ca2+ sparks recorded in line scan mode often occurred repetitively at the same spatial location in RyR3‐expressing myotubes. Such repetitive events were highly reproducible in amplitude and spatio‐temporal properties, as previously observed for repetitive mode sparks in frog skeletal muscle. 6 Ca2+ sparks recorded in xy mode were frequently compressed in the y (slower scan) direction compared to the x direction. This asymmetry was reproduced assuming spatially symmetric events having the time course of Ca2+ sparks recorded in line scan (xt) mode. 7 These expression studies demonstrate that the presence of RyR3 is sufficient for the production of Ca2+ sparks in a skeletal muscle system lacking the expression of any other RyR isoform.
Critical Thinking: Applications to Leadership and Scholarship

This document offers an analysis of the differing definitions of critical thinking through comparison and contrast of the influence of cognitive, emotional and logical skills in the thinking process. Some theorists define critical thinking based on traditional approaches of logic thinking, whereas others use newer concepts that incorporate emotions as augmenting factors. The conceptual framework will provide the springboard to evaluate critical thinking abilities as performed by this author, an economist and university professor, doctoral learner at University of Phoenix.
Early Intratracheal Instillation of Budesonide Using Surfactant as a Vehicle to Prevent Chronic Lung Disease in Preterm Infants: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVE. Budesonide is an inhaled steroid with a strong topical effect but with minimal systemic effects; it has been effectively delivered to animal lungs using surfactant as a vehicle. The purposes of this study were to determine whether early intratracheal instillation of budesonide using surfactant as a vehicle would improve pulmonary status, reduce mortality, and reduce chronic lung disease morbidity. PATIENTS AND METHODS. We conducted a prospective, randomized blind trial in 116 very low birth weight infants (<1500 g) who had severe radiographic respiratory distress syndrome and required mechanical ventilation with fraction of inspired oxygen ≥0.6 shortly after birth: 60 were in the treated group (intratracheal instillation of a mixture of 0.25 mg/kg of budesonide and 100.00 mg/kg of survanta, every 8 hours) and 56 were in the control group (100 mg/kg of survanta only, every 8 hours). The end point assessment was the number of infants who would die or develop chronic lung disease at 36 weeks’ postconceptional age. RESULTS. Infants in the treatment group required significantly lower mean airway pressure on day 1 and day 3 and had significantly lower oxygen index and Pco2 during the first 3 days than infants in the control group. More infants were extubated in the treatment group than controls at 1 and 2 weeks. The combined outcome of deaths or chronic lung disease was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group (19 of 60 vs 34 of 56). No clinically significant adverse effects were observed during the study. CONCLUSIONS. This pilot study indicated that early postnatal intratracheal instillation of budesonide using surfactant as vehicle significantly improved the combined outcome of death or chronic lung disease in small premature infants without causing immediate adverse effects. The results are encouraging, and a large sample multicenter trial is warranted.
Comparative analysis of support vector machine and nearest boundary vector classifier

The paper will present the original NBV (Nearest Boundary Vector) classifier whose structure has been inspired by the structure of CP (Counter Propagation) neural network, which uses the methods applied in the minimum-distance classification while in its operation drawn on the idea of functioning of SVM (Support Vector Machines) classifiers. The classification algorithm which is used by it relies on the original concept of a set of Boundary Vectors. It is characterized by the possibility of creation of various shapes of decision-making regions and it enables effective multi-class recognition. Recognition efficiency of NBV classifier will be confronted with efficiency of SVM classifiers.
Human detection in semi-dense scenes using HOG descriptor and mixture of SVMs

Human detection has recently received significant attention in the field of computer vision. Accurate detection of human bodies is an essential component required by a variety of applications such as automated surveillance, advanced user interface and sport analysis. In this paper, we present a new method for human detection in video frames, using learning algorithm, feature extraction and sliding window. People detection is a challenging topic, especially in complex scenes when occlusion occurs. In this paper a new technique based on the body part detection and HOG (Histogram of Gradient) features is proposed for human detection with occlusions. Proposed HOG descriptor provides lower feature vector length in comparison with state of the art methods approaches. Using human detectors alone, cause to high frequent false positive. Thus, we propose a novel classifier-fusion learning algorithm, instead of single classifier. The experimental results show that the new proposed method provides lower false positive and raise higher precision and recall in comparison with state of the art methods.
Supporting Relative Location Constraints in Actor Systems

The Actor model supports mobility of computations, and in actor migrations, absolute destinations must be explicitly specified. However, in many real world applications, relative location relationships are more meaningful. In this paper, we propose a middleware which supports relative location constraints of actors. We use a case study to illustrate that our middleware greatly enhances the flexibility and programmability of actor systems. In addition, experimental results show that our middleware platform is scalable.
Selecting Effective and Discriminative Spatio-Temporal Interest Points for Recognizing Human Action

National Nature Science Foundation of China [61202143]; Doctoral Program Foundation of Institutions of Higher Education of China [20090121110032]; Shenzhen Science and Technology Research Foundation [JC200903180630A, ZYB200907110169A]; National Science Council of Taiwan [NSC-101-2221-E-155-060]
Retinoid derivative Tp80 exhibits anti‐hepatitis C virus activity through restoration of GI‐GPx expression

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a positive‐sense single‐stranded RNA virus with an estimated infection in ∼180 million people worldwide, and its chronic infection leads to development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although recent development of direct acting antiviral (DAA) compounds improved anti‐HCV regimens, alternative therapeutic compounds are still demanded due to an expected emergence of escape mutants for those DAAs. In order to identify novel anti‐HCV agents, we conducted chemical library screening for 2086 compounds using HCV Rep‐Feo reporter replicon in Huh7 hepatoma cells. Our screening identified retinoid derivative Tp80, which inhibits replication of HCV Rep‐Feo (genotype 1b) and JFH1 HCV (genotype 2a) with 0.62 μM and 1.0 μM, respectively, of 50% effective concentration (EC50), at which cytotoxicity is not evident for host hepatocytes. Subsequent transcriptome profiling revealed Tp80 exhibits anti‐HCV activity through restoration of gastrointestinal glutathione peroxidase (GI‐GPx), suppression of which is responsible for HCV‐induced oxidative stress to facilitate HCV replication. Furthermore, comparison of Tp80 with other retinoid derivatives revealed Tp80 shows best potency in both GI‐GPx restoration and anti‐HCV activity among compounds we examined. In conclusion, our current study provides Tp80 as a promising candidate of anti‐HCV compound, suppressing host cellular oxidative stress through a restoration of GI‐GPx.
Grundlagen naturnaher Gewässergestaltung : Geomorphologische Entwicklung von Fließgewässern

Das Schlagwort der 90er Jahre heisst naturnahe Gewasserentwicklung. Der Autor vermittelt fundierte Grundlagenkenntnisse und zeigt an Beispielen, anschaulichen Tabellen und anhand konkreter Planungshinweise fur den Flussbau, wie sich naturnahe Entwicklungen praktisch in Gang setzen lassen.
Detection of Factor V Leiden from a Drop of Blood by PCR-SSCP

Summary Recently, a point mutation in the coagulation Factor V gene (G to A in position 1691) has been identified which makes the mutant Factor V (called Factor V Leiden) resistant to activated protein C. This defect is a well established genetic risk factor in venous thrombosis. Because of the high prevalence of Factor V Leiden in normal population (2-7%), it would be reasonable to perform a rapid and simple method for screening the genetic abnormality in population at risk. We have developed a simple, reproducible, rapid and cheap procedure that, using PCR and SSCP, allows the identification of the mutation responsible for Factor V Leiden. Specificity of this method has been tested in 319 samples: 304 normal, 14 heterozygous and 1 homozygous for Factor V Leiden. This assay allows non-isotopic Factor V Leiden identification by using frozen whole blood in 3 h. All these features make this test adequate for routine screening of this mutation in a large number of samples.
Selective physical layer network coding in bidirectional relay channel

In this paper, the authors show that using physical layer network coding (PNC) in wireless relay systems does not always increase throughput performance, and to achieve maximum throughput, PNC should be exploited intelligently regarding to the channel conditions. In this study, they propose a selective PNC (SPNC) scheme in bidirectional relay systems for binary phase shift keying. In the proposed scheme, the relay chooses either to detect network-coded data from superimposed signal by PNC scheme or single source data by a so-called single node detection (SND) scheme, based on which offers more end-to-end throughput for current channel realisation. They analytically determine the region of channel state plane in which SPNC selects SND scheme. Also, they obtain expressions for instantaneous bit error rates (BERs) of PNC and SND protocols. Moreover, they derive upper bounds in closed-form for average BERs of PNC and SND schemes during multiple access phase at the relay. Then, they investigate SPNC with high-order modulations. Simulations and analytical results confirm that SPNC achieves considerable throughput gain over PNC in Rayleigh fading channels.
How Do U.S. and Chinese Biology Students Compare in Explaining Energy Consumption Issues

This qualitative study investigates how biology majors explain energy consumption issues. In particular, we focus on two energy consumption activities that account for about two-thirds of global carbon dioxide emissions in 2011: burning fossil fuels for transportation and using electricity. We conducted in-depth clinical interviews with twenty U.S. students and twenty Chinese students. We compared these two groups of students in terms of two aspects of explanation: 1) naming scientific terms in the explanation, and 2) explaining an energy consumption issue. Regarding naming, we examined the frequency of naming different terms of scientific concepts and principles in students’ explanations. Regarding explaining, we developed a rubric that differentiates three levels of explaining: informal explanations that are based upon intuitive ideas (Level 1), school science explanations that are based on alternative conceptions about matter and energy (Level 2), and scientific explanations that demonstrate the scientific understanding of concepts/principles about matter and energy (Level 3). The results revealed that scientific terms appeared most frequently in scientific explanations (Level 3), but they also appeared in many school science explanations (Level 2) and in some informal explanations (Level 1). We further describe how scientific terms were used in explanations at different levels. We found although Chinese students named scientific terms more frequently and demonstrated a better performance in explaining, they still produced more informal explanations and school science explanations than scientific explanations. In general, the results suggest the importance of promoting students’ abilities to use scientific terms correctly and meaningfully in explaining real-world environmental events in both countries.
Microencapsulation of Essential Oils within Alginate: Formulation and in Vitro Evaluation of Antifungal Activity

Essential oils (EOs) are the volatile lipophilic components extracted from plants. Many EOs have demonstrated strong antimicrobial properties when tested in in vitro experiments. The commercial applications of these EOs require a suitable formulation constituted by biodegradable compounds that protect them from degradation and evaporation at the same time that allows for a sustained release. The objective of this study was therefore to reduce the rate of evaporation of the oil via microencapsulation. Alginate microspheres (AMSs) were prepared using emulsion extrusion method. The AMSs were hardened with a cross-linking agent, calcium chloride. The effects of the three variables: alginate concentration (0.5% - 8%), the amount of cross-linking agent (0.125% - 2%) and time of cross-linking (5 - 30 min.) on loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency (EE, %) were studied. The effect of the amount of cross-linker was significant on loading capacity (%) and EE (%). The AMSs under the optimized conditions provided loading capacity of 22% - 24% and EE of 90% - 94% based on type of EO. The antifungal activity of vapors of microencapsulated and non-microencapsulated oils were evaluated against two of pathogenic fungi species for stored grains: Aspergillus niger and Fusarium verticillioides. The optimized MSs were observed to have a sustained in vitro release profile (50% of the antifungal activity was maintained at the 8th day of the study). In conclusion, encapsulation in Ca-alginate microspheres may effectively reduce the evaporation rate of essential oils, thus increase the potential antifungal activity.
Cellular fura‐2 Manganese Extraction Assay (CFMEA)

Cellular manganese (Mn) uptake and transport dynamics can be measured using a cellular fura‐2 manganese extraction assay (CFMEA). The assay described here uses immortalized murine striatal cell line and primary cortical astrocytes, but the method is equally adaptable to other cultured mammalian cells. An ultrasensitive fluorescent nucleic acid stain for quantification of double‐stranded DNA (dsDNA) in solution, Quant‐iT PicoGreen, has been utilized for normalization of Mn concentration in the cultured cells, following Mn (II) chloride (MnCl2) exposure. Depending on the cell type and density, other methods, e.g., protein determination assays or cell counts, may also be used for normalization. Methods are described for rapidly stopping Mn uptake and transport processes at specified times, extraction, and quantification of cellular Mn content, and normalization of Mn levels to dsDNA concentration. Curr. Protoc. Toxicol. 48:12.18. 1‐12.18. 20. © 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Heat enhances gas delivery and acoustic attenuation in CO2 filled microbubbles

Thermo-responsive chitosan microbubbles were developed as new therapeutic device for vehiculating gases to tissues concomitantly to hyperthermic treatments. Aiming at applications to non-invasive temperature monitoring, microbubbles were characterized for acoustic attenuation properties in the 1–15 MHz range both by direct methods and by B-mode Ultrasound imaging up to 43 °C, which is the temperature used in clinical hyperthermia. The chitosan microbubbles showed a mean diameter of 1 μm at room temperature, which slightly decreases after heating, enhancing gas delivery. Acoustic attenuation monotonically increases with temperature, being the extent of such variation larger than that observed in tissues. Both the physico-chemical and the acoustic profiles showed reversible variations of microbubbles approaching 43 °C, which might be of interest for applications in hyperthermic therapies.
ELECTROLYTES AND SMOOTH MUSCLE CONTRACTION.

Attention to details concerning the individual components of the contractile process of smooth muscle creates the impression that there is a striking difference not only between this muscle and striated muscle, but also among smooth muscles from various sources. Examples of its dissimilarity are found in the great and variable permeability of the membrane to Na; the individuality of endoplasmic reticulum, relaxing factor, and response to Ca; and its relatively weak but very extensible contractile protein. Although the individualities may be only quantitative, they are responsible for large differences in the mechanical event which is the end-product of the overall contractile process. Emphasis in the past has been placed on the uniqueness, variabifity, and lability of the smooth muscle contractile system. However, when one looks within the basic mechanisms of the smooth muscle contractile process, its excitation, coupling, chemo-mechanical transducing, and energy metabolism, one sees processes that are generally similar to those of striated muscle. Ca modulates membrane excitability, is essential for excitation-contraction coupling, and may have another more direct function in the relationship between the chemical energy source (ATP) and the contractile machine (actomyosin). Mg depresses membrane excitability or excitation-contraction coupling but, in some cases, has a positive influence on contraction. It does not seem to be essential for contraction and its usual effect reflects depressed excitation or coupling. The action of K is strikingly ambivalent; an increase in concentration of K in the environment of the cell results in depolarization, increased excitability, and increased contraction; whereas intracellular K is essential for the normal reversible contractile process. In its absence a rigid contracture develops and in excess it plasticizes the contractile machine so that tension development is impaired. Na is not essential for the contraction-relaxation cycle, but in the intact system it has an important controlling influence on membrane excitability and on excitation- contraction coupling. The action of Na is largely dependent on interrelationships between the concentrations of Na and Ca. The influence of anions on smooth muscle contraction is determined primarily by the ease with which they permeate the cell membrane. In accordance with this facility they influence membrane potential and may have a more direct effect on the rate of movement of Ca through the membrane. The generalization most profitable to live with in dealing with the influence of electrolytes on the contractile process of smooth muscle is that each may affect several of the components of the overall contractile process. The net effect of a shift in electrolyte concentration on the size of the contraction will depend on the relative magnitude and direction of the influence of this change on each process. In a general way the basic components of the overall contractile process of smooth muscle resemble those of skeletal muscle.