Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of coingestion of fat and protein with carbohydrate feedings on muscle glycogen storage.

Dietary guidelines for achieving optimal muscle glycogen storage after prolonged exercise have been given in terms of absolute carbohydrate (CHO) intake (8-10 g.kg-1.day-1). However, it is of further interest to determine whether the addition of fat and protein to carbohydrate feedings affects muscle glycogen storage. Eight well-trained triathletes [23.1 +/- 2.0 (SE) yr; 74.0 +/- 3.4 kg; peak O2 consumption = 4.7 +/- 0.4 l/min] undertook an exercise trial (2 h at 75% peak O2 consumption, followed by four 30-s sprints) on three occasions, each 1 wk apart. For 24 h after each trial, the subjects rested and were assigned to the following diets in randomized order: control (C) diet (high glycemic index CHO foods; CHO = 7 g.kg-1.day-1), added fat and protein (FP) diet (C diet + 1.6 g.kg-1.day-1 fat + 1.2 g.kg-1.day-1 protein), and matched-energy diet [C diet + 4.8 g.kg-1.day-1 additional CHO (Polycose) to match the additional energy in the FP diet]. Meals were eaten at t = 0, 4, 8, and 21 h of recovery. The total postprandial incremental plasma glucose area was significantly reduced after the FP diet (P < 0.05). Serum free fatty acid and plasma triglyceride responses were significantly elevated during the FP trial (P < 0.05). There were no differences between trials in muscle glycogen storage over 24 h (C, 85.8 +/- 2.7 mmol/kg wet wt; FP, 80.5 +/- 8.2 mmol/kg wet wt; matched-energy, 87.9 +/- 7.0 mmol/kg wet wt). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
AT1 Angiotensin Receptors Mobilize Intracellular Calcium in a Subclone of NG108–15 Neuroblastoma Cells

Abstract: The effects of angiotensin II (AII) and related peptides on the mobilization of internal Ca2+ were studied in a subclone of NG108–15 cells. The subclone, C1, was prepared by fluorescence‐activated cell cloning using a rapid response kinetics and a large response magnitude following stimulation by AII as the selection criteria. Angiotensin I, AII, and angiotensin III (AIII) stimulated Ca2+ mobilization in the C1 cells in a concentration‐dependent manner (1 nM‐100 μM), yielding EC50 values of 437 ± 80 nM (n = 4; slope = 1.6 ± 0.3), 57 ± 8 nM (n = 12; slope = 1.5 ± 0.3), and 36 ± 5 nM (n = 7; slope = 1.4 ± 0.3), respectively. AIII was significantly more potent than AII (p < 0.05). In contrast, Des‐Phe8‐AII, AII‐hexapeptide (AII 3–8), and p‐NH2‐Phe6‐AII (1–10 μM) were inactive as agonists. Although the effects of AII and AIII in C1 and parent NG108–15 cells were totally inhibited by the AT1 receptor‐selective nonpeptide antagonist, DUP‐753 (0.3–1 μM), the AT2‐selective antagonists, EXP‐655 and CGP42112A (1–10 μM), failed to block the effects of AII. DUP‐753 (0.3–100 nM) produced dextral shifts of the AII‐induced concentration‐response curves and yielded an estimated affinity constant (pA2) of 8.5 ± 0.2 (n = 16) using single‐point analysis involving different concentrations of DUP‐753. These data compared well with those obtained for the inhibition of AII‐induced aortic contractions by DUP‐753 (pA2= 8.5) reported previously by others. These data strongly support the identification of an AT1‐angiotensin receptor subtype in the NG108–15. C1 subclone that is coupled to a Ca2+ mobilization signal transduction mechanism.
A virtual reality paradigm for the assessment and rehabilitation of executive function deficits post stroke: Feasibility study

The ability to perform successive or simultaneous tasks is a common and necessary aspect of everyday life. This ability is often impaired in people suffering from brain lesions affecting, in particular, the frontal regions. The assessment and recovery of executive functions and dual task abilities conducted in laboratory settings do not always succeed, in part, due to the ecological and contextual nature of the abilities impaired. The present study was designed to develop and test a virtual reality based tool for the rehabilitation of shifting of attention and action planning functions using tasks reminiscent of daily life tasks. The virtual environment employed in the study is a supermarket developed using NeuroVR software. While actively exploring this environment, participants were requested to collect some items from a list while attending to different audio announcements that would modify the sequence or number of items collected. This executive function evaluation and rehabilitation procedure has been conceived as a hierarchical series of tasks, starting from a single-task condition and ending with successive multiple tasks. In this paper, we present the results of a small-scale pilot trial where we investigated the feasibility of the procedure in a healthy elderly population. These results provided important usability data for a subsequent randomized clinical trial.
Taste Perception and Food Choices

Objectives: The extent to which variation in taste perception influences food preferences is, to date, controversial. Bitterness in food triggers an innate aversion that is responsible for dietary restriction in children. We investigated the association among genetic variations in bitter receptor TAS2R38 and food choices in healthy children in the Mediterranean area, to develop appropriate tools to evaluate the relation among genetic predisposition, dietary habits, and feeding disorders. The aims of the study were to get a first baseline picture of taste sensitivity in healthy adults and their children and to explore taste sensitivity in a preliminary sample of obese children and in samples affected by functional gastrointestinal diseases. Methods: Individuals (98 children, 87 parents, 120 adults) were recruited from the general population in southern Italy. Bitterness sensitivity was assessed by means of a suprathreshold method with 6-propyl-2-thiouracil. Genomic DNA from saliva was used to genotype individuals for 3 polymorphisms of TAS2R38 receptor, A49P, A262 V, and V296I. Food intake was assessed by a food frequency questionnaire. Results: Children's taste sensation differed from that of adults: we observed a higher frequency of supertasters among children even in the mother–child dyads with the same diplotypes. Among adults, supertaster status was related with proline-alanine-valine (taster allele) homozygous haplotype, whereas supertaster children were mainly heterozygous. Regarding the food choices, we found that a higher percentage of taster children avoided bitter vegetables or greens altogether compared with taster adults. Taster status was also associated with body mass index in boys. Conclusions: Greater sensitivity to 6-propyl-2-thiouracil predicts lower preferences for vegetables in children, showing an appreciable effect of the genetic predisposition on food choices. None of the obese boys was a supertaster.
Men and women differ in their diurnal expression of monocyte peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐α in the fed but not in the fasted state

Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐α (PPARα) plays a pivotal role in regulating metabolic response to fasting and is an inhibitor of inflammatory pathways in immune cells. It represents a therapeutic target for treatment of several diseases, mainly hyperlipidemia. To shed light on PPARα expression changes in response to fasting, young healthy male and female volunteers were fed or fasted for 24 hours. Monocytes were analyzed every 2 hours to compile both profiles of mRNA and protein expression of PPARα and its interactive partner, the circadian pacemaker brain and muscle aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator like‐1 (BMAL1). We found that women change their diurnal expression profiles of PPARα and BMAL1 when switching from the fed to the fasted state, whereas men do not. Interestingly, the PPARα and BMAL1 profiles of men and women in the fed state are different, whereas the profiles in the fasted state are virtually identical. The finding of diametrically opposite responses of male and female PPARα expression in the fed state might have practical implication in human medicine as PPARα activators like fibrates are used for the therapy of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, microvascular complications in diabetes, and kidney diseases. —Wege, N. , Schutkowski, A. , Boenn, M. , Bialek, J., Schlitt, A. , Noack, F. , Grosse, I. , Stangl, G. I. Men and women differ in their diurnal expression of monocyte peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐a in the fed but not in the fasted state. FASEB J. 29, 2905‐2911 (2015). www.fasebj. org
Variation in tube voltage for adult neck MDCT: effect on radiation dose and image quality.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of peak kilovoltage on radiation dose and image quality in adult neck MDCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS An anthropomorphic phantom with metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor detectors was imaged with a 64-MDCT scanner. The reference CT protocol called for 120 kVp, and images obtained with that protocol were compared with CT images obtained with protocols entailing 80, 100, and 140 kVp. All imaging was performed with automatic tube current modulation. Organ dose and effective dose were determined for each protocol and compared with those obtained with the 120-kVp protocol. Image noise was evaluated objectively and subjectively for each protocol. RESULTS The highest organ doses for all protocols were to the thyroid, ocular lens, skin, and mandible. The greatest reductions in organ dose were for the bone marrow of the cervical spine and mandible: 43% and 35% with the 100-kVp protocol and 63% and 53% with the 80-kVp protocol. Effective dose decreased as much as 9% with the 100-kVp protocol and 12% with the 80-kVp protocol. Use of the 140-kVp protocol was associated with an increase in organ dose as high as 64% for bone marrow in the cervical spine and a 19% increase in effective dose. Image noise increased with lower peak kilovoltage. The measured noise difference was greatest at 80 kVp, absolute increases were less than 2.5 HU. There was no difference in subjective image quality among protocols. CONCLUSION Reducing the voltage from 120 to 80 kVp for neck CT can result in greater than 50% reduction in the absorbed organ dose to the bone marrow of the cervical spine and mandible without impairment in subjective image quality.
Fatigue and depression in multiple sclerosis: pharmacological and non‐pharmacological interventions

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory condition with a prominent progressive neurodegenerative facet that typically affects young‐ or middle‐aged adults. Although physical disabilities have been in the foreground by being easier to assess, there is an increasing interest in mental disabilities and psychiatric co‐morbidities, which have a disproportionally high impact on important outcome measures such as quality of life and occupational disability. In particular, cognitive impairment, depression and mental fatigue, which mutually interact with each other, seem to be of importance in this context. In recent decades, major efforts have been invested in developing more effective disease modulatory treatments. This has resulted in novel therapeutic options and awareness of the importance of early intervention. In comparison, good quality and adequately powered studies on symptomatic treatments of fatigue and psychiatric co‐morbidities in MS are rare, and awareness of treatment options is much lower. We here review the existing evidence base for symptomatic treatment of fatigue and depression in MS patients. With regard to fatigue, off‐label prescription of alertness improving drugs is common, in spite of all but absent evidence of efficacy. In contrast, a number of smaller studies suggest that physical exercise and fatigue management courses may have some clinical benefit. Very few studies have addressed the efficacy of antidepressants and non‐pharmaceutical interventions specifically in MS patients. Therefore, treatment guidelines largely rely on data from non‐MS populations. In the future, there is a strong motive to direct additional resources to the study of these important aspects of MS.
The mechanism of ATP-dependent RNA unwinding by DEAD box proteins

Abstract DEAD box proteins catalyze the ATP-dependent unwinding of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). In addition, they facilitate protein displacement and remodeling of RNA or RNA/protein complexes. Their hallmark feature is local destabilization of RNA duplexes. Here, we summarize current data on the DEAD box protein mechanism and present a model for RNA unwinding that integrates recent data on the effect of ATP analogs and mutations on DEAD box protein activity. DEAD box proteins share a conserved helicase core with two flexibly linked RecA-like domains that contain all helicase signature motifs. Variable flanking regions contribute to substrate binding and modulate activity. In the presence of ATP and RNA, the helicase core adopts a compact, closed conformation with extensive interdomain contacts and high affinity for RNA. In the closed conformation, the RecA-like domains form a catalytic site for ATP hydrolysis and a continuous RNA binding site. A kink in the backbone of the bound RNA locally destabilizes the duplex. Rearrangement of this initial complex generates a hydrolysis- and unwinding-competent state. From this complex, the first RNA strand can dissociate. After ATP hydrolysis and phosphate release, the DEAD box protein returns to a low-affinity state for RNA. Dissociation of the second RNA strand and reopening of the cleft in the helicase core allow for further catalytic cycles.
Optical sensor based on etched fiber Bragg gratings for assessment of biodiesel quality

In this work, are presented preliminary results of the application of an etched FBG as a sensor for analyzing the biodiesel quality. The method used is based on the thermo-optic effect and the spectral behavior when the refractive index of samples with different concentrations of biodiesel approaches the refractive index of the fiber cladding. The results show that the etched fiber Bragg gratings can be used to measure small concentrations of oil in biodiesel.
Similarity matrix learning for ontology application

In information retrieval, ontology is used to search the information which has highly semantic similarity of the original query concept, and return the results to the user. Ontology mapping is used to create the relationship between different ontologies, and the essence of which is similarity computation. In this article, we present new algorithms for ontology similarity measure and ontology mapping by determining the similarity matrix of ontology. The optimisation strategy and iterative procedure are designed in terms of metric distance learning tricks. The simulation experimental results show that the proposed new algorithms have high accuracy and efficiency on ontology similarity measure and ontology mapping in biology, physics applications, plant science and humanoid robotics.
A [Cu2O]2+ core in Cu-ZSM-5, the active site in the oxidation of methane to methanol

Driven by the depletion of crude oil, the direct oxidation of methane to methanol has been of considerable interest. Promising low-temperature activity of an oxygen-activated zeolite, Cu-ZSM-5, has recently been reported in this selective oxidation and the active site in this reaction correlates with an absorption feature at 22,700 cm−1. In the present study, this absorption band is used to selectively resonance enhance Raman vibrations of this active site. 18O2 labeling experiments allow definitive assignment of the observed vibrations and exclude all previously characterized copper-oxygen species for the active site. In combination with DFT and normal coordinate analysis calculations, the oxygen activated Cu core is uniquely defined as a bent mono-(μ-oxo)dicupric site. Spectroscopically validated electronic structure calculations show polarization of the low-lying singly-occupied molecular orbital of the [Cu2O]2+ core, which is directed into the zeolite channel, upon approach of CH4. This induces significant oxyl character into the bridging O atom leading to a low transition state energy consistent with experiment and explains why the bent mono-(μ-oxo)dicupric core is highly activated for H atom abstraction from CH4. The oxygen intermediate of Cu-ZSM-5 is now the most well defined species active in the methane monooxygenase reaction.
Reasons for using power tilt: perspectives from clients and therapists

Abstract Purpose: A power tilt wheelchair allows independence in changing body position to address a variety of needs throughout the day; however, literature and clinical practice suggest that actual use varies greatly. This grounded theory study examined how power tilt was used in daily life from the perspectives of adults who used power tilt and therapists who prescribed this technology. Methods: A constant comparative approach was used to collect and analyze interview data from five people who use power tilt and six therapists who prescribe this technology. Results: This paper presents the findings specific to understanding the reasons why power tilt was used, focusing on the relationships between tilt use and (1) the reasons for use, (2) the reasons for prescribing power tilt and (3) the associated amplitudes of tilt. Conclusions: This study advances knowledge related to how power tilt is used in daily life by elucidating that how the reasons for use are conceptualized is complex. The three relationships related to the reason for power tilt use identified in this paper have the potential to influence the quality of communication about power tilt use in clinical practice between therapist and client and in research between researcher and participant. Implications for Rehabilitation: Understanding the inconsistencies and variations in how power tilt is used in daily life is dependent on exploring the reasons beyond the words or terms expressed to describe use. Reasons for tilt use are context dependent, particularly the activity occurring at the time of tilt use, the associated amplitude of tilt and the influence of other reasons occurring at the same time.
Plasma brain natriuretic peptide can be a biological marker to distinguish cardioembolic stroke from other stroke types in acute ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND Plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is used as a marker of congestive heart failure. Moreover, plasma BNP levels are increased in patients with acute ischemic stroke, in particular, cardioembolic stroke. We investigated whether the plasma BNP level can also be used as a biological marker to differentiate specific stroke subtype, in particular cardioembolic stroke from the other ischemic stroke subtypes. METHODS Consecutive patients (total 200; 124 males, 76 females; mean age, 71.4 years) with acute ischemic stroke within 24 hours of onset were prospectively enrolled. We measured plasma BNP on admission. Patients were divided into four groups according to the TOAST classification: large-vessel disease (LVD), cardioembolism (CE), small-vessel disease (SVD), and other stroke. Correlation between plasma BNP level and stroke subtype was then examined. RESULTS Cardioembolism (41%) was the most frequent stroke subtype, followed by other stroke (34%), SVD (16%), and LVD (9%). Age, female, atrial fibrillation, NIHSS score > or = 7 on admission and mRS score > or = 3 at discharge were significantly higher in CE than in the other stroke subtypes. The mean plasma BNP level of the CE group was significantly higher than that of the other 3 subtypes (409.6 pg/mL for CE, 94.0 pg/mL for LVD, 37.4 pg/mL for SVD, and 156.9 pg/mL for others, p<0.001). The optimal cut-off concentration, sensitivity, and specificity of plasma BNP levels to distinguish CE from other stroke subtypes were 140.0 pg/mL, 80.5% and 80.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION Plasma BNP level is significantly higher in CE patients than in other stroke subtypes, and thus physicians should strongly consider CE when the plasma BNP level is over 140.0 pg/mL in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Oligodendroglial reaction following spinal cord injury in rat: Transient upregulation of MBP mRNA

The reaction of oligodendrocytes in response to traumatic injury of the CNS are poorly understood. In the present report we studied changes in the expression of a major constituent of CNS myelin, myelin basic protein (MBP), by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization from 6 h up to 2 weeks following partial transection of the spinal cord in adult rats. MBP immunohistochemistry showed degeneration of myelin at the lesion center and signs of myelin breakdown in necrotic foci in the dorsal and ventral funiculi proximal and distal to the lesion. In situ hybridization revealed that mRNA for MBP was downregulated at the local lesion site within the first day following injury, probably reflecting oligodendrocytes to undergo cell death. From 2 days on, however, MBP mRNA was conspicuously upregulated at the border of the lesion area. This “reactive” response of surviving oligodendrocytes, as indicated by increased levels of MBP mRNA, peaked around 8 days. At this time, oligodendrocytes displaying strong MBP in situ signal formed stripe‐like structures which were oriented radially toward the lesion center and arranged in parallel to neurofilament‐positive axons. At around 2 weeks post‐injury, MBP mRNA at the border of the lesion area was again downregulated to levels comparable to uninjured controls. These results show that traumatic injury of the spinal cord induces a “reactive” response of surviving oligodendrocytes adjacent to lesion sites. This response might represent an important component of local repair mechanisms. GLIA 23:278–284, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Factors affecting transfusion of fresh frozen plasma, platelets, and red blood cells during elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

CONTEXT The ability to predict the use of blood components during surgery will improve the blood bank's ability to provide efficient service. OBJECTIVE Develop prediction models using preoperative risk factors to assess blood component usage during elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). DESIGN Eighty-three preoperative, multidimensional risk variables were evaluated for patients undergoing elective CABG-only surgery. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES The study endpoints included transfusion of fresh frozen plasma (FFP), platelets, and red blood cells (RBC). Multivariate logistic regression models were built to assess the predictors related to each of these endpoints. SETTING Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. PATIENTS Records for 3034 patients undergoing elective CABG-only procedures; 1033 patients received a blood component transfusion during CABG. RESULTS Previous heart surgery and decreased ejection fraction were significant predictors of transfusion for all blood components. Platelet count was predictive of platelet transfusion and FFP utilization. Baseline hemoglobin was a predictive factor for more than 2 units of RBC. Some significant hospital variation was noted beyond that predicted by patient risk factors alone. CONCLUSIONS Prediction models based on preoperative variables may facilitate blood component management for patients undergoing elective CABG. Algorithms are available to predict transfusion resources to assist blood banks in improving responsiveness to clinical needs. Predictors for use of each blood component may be identified prior to elective CABG for VA patients.