bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Training Model for Attacking in Football of 16 Years Old
Authors: Hary Valentino , Firdiansyah Bahtiar
Published: January 2020

The aim of this research is to produce a training model for attacking football and also to refute its effectiveness for children aged 16 years. As for the steps in developing the research, the Borg and Gall steps involved 15 subjects for the small test and 60 for the large test. Qualitative data were obtained from observations, documentation and interviews; meanwhile, for the quantitative data using the effectiveness test. The trial of this study used pre and post tests with 10 opposing criteria. In mathematical calculations the significance of the difference t-count = -28.971, db = 43 and p-value = 0.00 <0.05, which means it contains significance before and after giving treatment. It can be concluded that the model is applied effectively to improve the ability for attacking amongst school students aged 16 years. Thus, representing the differences in motor skills highlights the principle of specificity for attacking training at the age of 16 must be considered that the load of portions in the exercise program can be maximized.
Sepaktakraw Players Injuries Event
Authors: Khairunnisa Astry , Pitriani Pipit
Published: January 2020

Sepaktakraw basically requires acrobatic skills (ex: backflip, sunback spike, split, etc) that has high difficulty in playing it. The aim of this study was to look the incident of injuries (injury body parts, type of injury, and mechanism of injury). This study used descriptive research methods. 40 male and female athletes participated in the pre-season for Indonesian national competition (PON) 2020. The instruments used were questionnaires and interviews regarding the injury body parts, types of injuries and mechanisms injury. The results showed that the most damage experienced by sepaktakraw players occurred at the ankle (27%) with the type of sprained injury (47.5%) and was most widely known by server-positioned players and killer/spiker compilation when they did serve movements (27%) and spike (30%).
Application of Progressive Method on Handspring Skill Learning Outcomes in Vaulting Table
Authors: Mulyana Fegie Rizkia , Gumilar Ridwan
Published: January 2020

In the gymnastics learning II, a variety of obstacles are often experienced during the learning process. The issues consist of the difficulties of lecturers to deliver learning materials, students’ lack of understanding and processing the information during learning process that affect to their grade and learning outcomes of handspring skills on the vault. The purpose of this study is to improve student activities and learning outcomes and to increase in the application of progressive methods to the learning outcomes of handspring skills on the vault. The method used in this research is action research. The results of this action research are an increase in the quality of student learning outcomes. In the first cycle the percentage of mastery learning obtained 85% of this result is obtained because at this time it is still lacking in the second kite phase that still requires motion learning experience, the weakness of foot repulsion is greatly increased at the height of the kite and landing phase. In cycle II, there is an increase in the learning outcomes with a percentage of mastery learning 98%. This indicates that the method of progressive application gives meaning to the improvement in learning outcomes of handspring skills on the vault.
Improving Leadership and Teamwork through Outdoor Education Camping Program
Authors: Bakhri Rafdlal Saeful , Listiandi Arfin Deri , Kusuma Moh. Nanang Himawan , Budi Didik Rilastiyo , Suhartoyo Topo , Hidayat Rohman
Published: January 2020

Teenagers who are involved in achievement oriented sports tend to focus more on technique and tactics training. Whereas social skills are important aspects in the development of teenagers is often forgotten. Therefore, a program is needed that can develop aspects of social skills, especially leadership and teamwork. This study aims to determine the effect of the application of outdoor education camping programs on improving leadership and teamwork on youth athletes in basketball and futsal clubs. This study uses a quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental method of pretest-posttest design. The number of research subjects were 30 teenage athletes, in Sukabumi basketball and futsal clubs who were selected using cluster random sampling. The instruments used were in the form of a leadership and teamwork questionnaire. The result of research data of the ability and leadership variable gained average score of pretest as amount 52,2 and 56,4 for its posttest. On team work variable is gained average score of pretest 24,4 and 31,16 for its posttest. The results showed that there were positive and significant improvements in leadership skills and teamwork.
Strike and Fielding Games on Fundamental Movement Skills
Authors: Karisman Vicki Ahmad , Friskawati Gita Febria
Published: January 2020

To be skillful in every sport performance, every child is urged to possess the fundamental motor skills. This study aims to explore the contribution and the use of striking and fielding games in elementary school in an attempt of improving students fundamental motor skills. The researcher utilized an experimental method with pretest and posttest group design. This study invited 34 students of 4th grader as the research sample which was selected by implementing total sampling technique. The treatment was given for 16 meetings. For the instruments, the researcher used the 2nd edition of Test Gross Motor Development (TGMD); which was divided into two kinds of test; those are locomotor and object skill test. Based on the data analysis by using paired sample test, it showed that the significant score of pretest and posttest 0.000 < 0.05. It means that there was a significant improvement of the students’ fundamental motor skills that are intervened by striking and fielding games. This study also indicated that through these games, the students experienced the advancement in their fundamental motor skills. By this advancement, the students are expected to be able to participate actively in their physical activities. In conclusion, this study revealed the significant improvement of the striking and fielding games on the students’ fundamental motor skills.
The Analysis of Primary School Student Knowledge and Participation towards Traditional Games
Authors: Anggita Gustiana Mega , Ali Mohammad Arif , Sugiarto Sugiarto , Mukarromah Siti Baitul
Published: January 2020

This study aims to analysis elementary students’ understanding and participation in traditional game. This is a descrivtive research using survey method. Sample in this study was upper class students of MI Nurul Yaqien. The research instrument used was a questionnaire. Data analysis technique used is percentage or procentage correction. The results showed that 94.44% of students know traditional games. 71.43% of students understand traditional games. 91.67% of students are involved in traditional games. Conclusion of this research is the knowledge and participation of MI Nurul Yaqien students in traditional games is excellent. While their understanding of traditional games is in the sufficient category.
Determining Physical Fitness for PPLOP Basketball Athletes in Central Java using Sport-specific Test and Measurement
Authors: Syaukani Agam Akhmad , Subekti Nur , Sudarmanto Eko
Published: January 2020

The level of physical condition can directly affect the team's success in winning the match. The purpose of this study is to implement sport-specific test and measurement related to basketball to investigate the level of fitness for basketball athletes in Central Java highschool basketball team (PPLOP). The total of 13 athletes were signed for this study. Methods used to collect data were test and measurement containing of the following 60-m sprint test, sprint fatigue test, maximum push up, one minute push up, beep test and V-sit. These are sequentially intended to measure speed, anaerobic endurance, upper extremity muscular endurance, abdominal muscular endurance, aerobic endurance, and flexibility. In addition, a different test was conducted using ANOVA technique to determine differences in physical conditions between starters and reserve players. The results suggested that generally the level of physical condition of PPLOP players is in good condition. However, the muscular endurance of the arms and shoulders requires an increase because the results are categorized as less. The significant difference in physical capacity between starters and reserve players was recorded only in the number of push ups (p <0.05) recorded. This research can be used as a reference for trainers in creating training programs and adopting the types of tests and measurements selected in this study as guidelines for physical measurement for basketball athletes.
Komodifikasi Tri Mandala Desa Wisata Ubud
Authors: Raka Raka Raka
Published: January 2020

Penelitian ini mengkaji isu komodfikasi tri Mandala desa wisata Ubud. Isu ini menarik, karena menghadapkan masyarakat desa wisata pada dua pilihan ekstrim, materialisme atau religious? Penelitian komodifikasi bapang barong, dan komodifikasi pelinggih sanggah, belum menghadapkan masyarakat pada dua pilihan ekstrim. Pertanyaan adalah: 1) Apakah komodifikasi tri mandala; 2) Bagaimana komodifikasi tri mandala terjadi?; 3) Apa makna komodifikasi bagi masyarakat? Penelitian ini bertujuan, mengetahui dinamika religious, degradasi moral masyarakat desa wisata. Ini penting, guna mendeskripsikan paradigma spiritual berbanding terbalik, dengan paradigma material. Penelusuran data dengan pendekatan kualitatif, dibantu teori Analisis Wacana Kritis, dan Teori Dekonstruksi, menemukan: tri mandala desa wisata Ubud telah dikomodifikasi, dengan menambah fungsi, mengubah bentuk dan fungsi, untuk tujuan komoditas. Komodifikasi Utama Mandala mengaburkan batas-batas sakral dan profane; komodifikasi madya mandala mengaburkan fungsi ruang privat dan ruang publik, sebagai wahana transformasi nilai-nilai ke-Hindu-an bagi generasi. Komodifikasi Nista Mandala menimbulkan alih fungsi lahan, dan memaksa masyarakat hidup tergantung kunjungan wisatawan. Jadi kesimpulannya Komodifikasi tri mandala telah mengubah cara pandang, dan karakteristik religious masyarakat desa wisata, serta membuat hidup masyarakat tergantung kunjungan wisatawan. Agar tidak terjadi ketergantugan hidup pada wisatawan, disarankan kepada pemerintah, agar mengeluarkan regulasi, kebijakan penataan komodifikasi, menegaskan, mana yang boleh, dan mana tidak boleh dikomodifikasi. Tokoh agama dan tokoh masyarakat mesti bekerja sama dengan kaum akademisi, guna memikirkan, membangun strategi menjaga religiusitas umat, dari ketercerabutan akar budaya.
Evaluation of Left and Right Ventricular Systolic and Diastolic Electromechanical Synchrony in Older People: a Population-Based Observational Study
Authors: LASZLO R. , KONZ H. , KUNZ K. , DALLMEIER D. , KLENK J. , DENKINGER M. , KOENIG W. , ROTHENBACHER D. , STEINACKER J. M.
Published: January 2020

It is unknown whether physiological ageing also goes along with electromechanical asynchrony of contraction. Aim of the study was to evaluate synchrony of contraction in older people with (“non-healthy”) or without (”healthy”) evidence for structural cardiac disease. In 547 persons (age 76.7±5.5 years, 306 male, 241 female) recruited from a population-based cohort of the ActiFE-Ulm study including a random sample of people ≥65 years old living in the region of Ulm, Germany, various PW- and TDI-Doppler based markers for asynchrony were obtained by echocardiography. Within a subgroup of 84 healthy subjects, at most minimal systolic and diastolic asynchrony was found. Concerning systolic asynchrony, similar observations were made within the non-healthy subgroup. However, extent of diastolic left ventricular intraventricular asynchrony and also – by tendency – diastolic interventricular asynchrony was increased in comparison to the healthy subgroup. To conclude, no evidence that physiological ageing might go along with relevant left or right ventricular systolic or diastolic electromechanical asynchrony was found in our study. Furthermore, our population-based data support the results from other clinical studies with rather selected cohorts that structural heart diseases might go along with increased diastolic asynchrony.
Dextran Sodium Sulphate (DSS)-Induced Colitis Alters the Expression of Neurotrophins in Smooth Muscle Cells of Rat Colon
Authors: AL-QUDAH M. , SHAMMALA D. A. , AL-DWAIRI A. , AL-SHBOUL O. , MUSTAFA A. G.
Published: January 2020

Neurotrophins are present in the gastrointestinal tract where they participate in the survival and growth of enteric neurons, augmentation of enteric circuits, elevation of colonic myoelectrical activity and also in different aspects of colitis. Previous studies largely focused on the role of neural and mucosal neurotrophins in gut inflammation. The expression of neurotrophins in colonic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and the interactions of this potential source with colitis has not been studied in the gut. The expression of NGF, BDNF, NT-3 and NT-4 in SMCs from longitudinal and circular muscle layers of rat colon from normal and dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced colitis rats was measured by ELISA. NGF, BDNF, NT-3 and NT-4 are differentially expressed in both longitudinal and circular SMCs, where the expressions of BDNF and NT-4 proteins were greater in SMCs from the longitudinal muscle layer than from the circular muscle layer, while NGF protein expression was greater in circular SMCs and NT-3 expression was equal in cells from both muscle layers. Induction of colitis with DSS significantly alters neurotrophins expression pattern in colonic SMCs. NGF levels upregulated in circular SMCs. BDNF level was increased in DSS-induced colitis in longitudinal SMCs. NGF, NT-3 and NT-4 levels were downregulated in longitudinal SMCs of DSS-induced colitis rats' colon. Disturbances of neurotrophins expression in SMCs resulted from colitis might account for the structural and functional changes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as loss of innervation and characteristic hypercontractility of longitudinal muscle in IBD.
The Assessment of the Serum C-Peptide and Plasma Glucose Levels by Orally Administered Whey Proteins in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: WILDOVÁ E. , KRAML P. , POTOČKOVÁ J. , DLOUHÝ P. , ANDĚL M.
Published: January 2020

A personalized antidiabetic therapy is not yet part of the official guidelines of professional societies for clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum C-peptide and plasma glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after oral administration of whey proteins. Sixteen overweight T2DM Caucasians with good glycemic control and with preserved fasting serum C-peptide levels (>200 nmol/l) were enrolled in this study. Two oral stimulation tests – one with 75 g of glucose (OGTT) and the other with 75 g of whey proteins (OWIST) – were administered for assessing serum C-peptide and plasma glucose levels in each participant. Both oral tests induced similar pattern of C-peptide secretion, with a peak at 90 min. The serum C-peptide peak concentration was 2.91±0.27 nmol/l in OWIST, which was 22 % lower than in OGTT. Similarly, the C-peptide iAUC0-180 were 32 % lower in the OWIST than in the OGTT (p<0.01). Contrary to OGTT the OWIST did not cause a significant increase of glycemia (p<0.01). Our study showed that the OWIST represents a useful tool in estimation of stimulated serum C-peptide levels in patients with T2DM.
Role of Exercise-Induced Calmodulin Protein Kinase (CaMK)II Activation in the Regulation of Omega-6 Fatty Acids and Lipid Metabolism Genes in Rat Skeletal Muscle
Authors: JOSEPH J. S. , AYELESO A. O. , MUKWEVHO E.
Published: January 2020

Activation of calmodulin dependent protein kinase (CaMK)II by exercise is beneficial in controlling membrane lipids associated with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Regulation of lipid metabolism is crucial in the improvement of type 2 diabetes and obesity associated symptoms. The role of CaMKII in membrane associated lipid metabolism was the focus of this study. Five to six weeks old male Wistar rats were used in this study. GC×GC-TOFMS technique was used to determine the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic acid, arachidonic acid and 11,14-eicosadienoic acid). Carnitine palmitoyltransferase (Cpt-1) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (Acc-1) genes expression were assessed using quantitative real time PCR (qPCR). From the results, CaMKII activation by exercise increased the levels of arachidonic acid and 11,14-eicosadienoic acid while a decrease in the level of linolenic acid was observed in the skeletal muscle. The results indicated that exercise-induced CaMKII activation increased CPT-1 expression and decreased ACC-1 expression in rat skeletal muscle. All the observed increases with activation of CaMKII by exercise were aborted when KN93, an inhibitor of CaMKII was injected in exercising rats. This study demonstrated that CaMKII activation by exercise regulated lipid metabolism. This study suggests that CaMKII can be a vital target of therapeutic approach in the management of diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity that have increased to epidemic proportions recently.
Acrylamide-Induced Changes in Femoral Bone Microstructure of Mice
Authors: SAROCKA A. , BABOSOVA R. , KOVACOVA V. , OMELKA R. , SEMLA M. , KAPUSTA E. , GOC Z. , FORMICKI G. , MARTINIAKOVA M.
Published: January 2020

Acrylamide (AA) is one of the most common toxins in foods. Its effect on bone microstructure has not been investigated. The aim of our study was to analyze the impact of acute exposure to AA on femoral bone microstructure in mice. Adult animals were treated perorally with 2 doses of AA (E1 group, 1 mg/kg b.w.) in a 24-h period and with 3 doses of AA (E2 group, 1 mg/kg b.w.) in a 48-h period. Mice exposed to AA had smaller sizes of primary osteon's vascular canals. Secondary osteons were significantly smaller in mice from E2 group; however their increased number (from 38 % to 77 %) was identified in both E1 and E2 groups. In these groups, a higher number of resorption lacunae (from 100 % to 122 %) was also found. The values for bone volume, trabecular number were increased and that for trabecular separation was decreased in mice administered AA. Significantly higher value of bone surface was observed in mice from E1 group whereas trabecular thickness was increased in E2 group. The effect of AA on microstructure of compact and trabecular bone tissues is different. In our study, one dose of AA was used and acute effects of AA were investigated. Therefore, further studies are needed to study mechanisms by which AA acts on bone.
Sirt1 Mediates Improvement in Cognitive Defects Induced by Focal Cerebral Ischemia Following Hyperbaric Oxygen Preconditioning in Rats
Authors: DING P. , REN D. , HE S. , HE M. , ZHANG G. , CHEN Y. , SANG H. , PENG Z. , YAN W.
Published: January 2020

Hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning (HBO-PC) has been proposed as a safe and practical approach for neuroprotection in ischemic stroke. However, it is not known whether HPO-PC can improve cognitive deficits induced by cerebral ischemia, and the mechanistic basis for any beneficial effects remains unclear. We addressed this in the present study using rats subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) as an ischemic stroke model following HBO-PC. Cognitive function and expression of phosphorylated neurofilament heavy polypeptide (pNF-H) and doublecortin (DCX) in the hippocampus were evaluated 14 days after reperfusion and after short interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of sirtuin1 (Sirt1). HBO-PC increased pNF-H and DCX expression and mitigated cognitive deficits in MCAO rats. However, these effects were abolished by Sirt1 knockdown. Our results suggest that HBO-PC can protect the brain from injury caused by ischemia-reperfusion and that Sirt1 is a potential molecular target for therapeutic approaches designed to minimize cognitive deficits caused by cerebral ischemia.
Uric Acid Contributes Greatly to Hepatic Antioxidant Capacity Besides Protein
Authors: MIKAMI T. , SORIMACHI M.
Published: January 2020

Uric acid is the end-product of purine nucleotide metabolism and an increase in uric acid concentration in the body results in hyperuricemia, ultimately leading to gout. However, uric acid is a potent antioxidant and interacts with reactive oxygen species (ROS) to be non-enzymatically converted to allantoin. Uric acid accounts for approximately 60 % of antioxidant capacity in the plasma; however, its contribution to tissue antioxidant capacity is unknown. In this study, the contribution of uric acid to tissue antioxidant capacity and its conversion to allantoin by scavenging ROS in tissue were examined. The results showed that a decrease in hepatic uric acid content via allopurinol administration significantly reduced hepatic total-radical trapping antioxidant parameter (TRAP) content in protein-free cytosol. Additionally, treating protein-free cytosol with uricase led to a further reduction of hepatic TRAP content. Allantoin was also detected in the solution containing protein-free cytosol that reacted with ROS. These findings suggest that in the absence of protein, uric acid contributes greatly to antioxidant capacity in the liver, where uric acid is converted to allantoin by scavenging ROS.
Cardiac AT1 Receptor-Dependent and IGF1 Receptor-Independent Signaling Is Activated by a Single Bout of Resistance Exercise
Authors: MELO S. F. S. , BARAUNA V. G. , FERNANDES T. , CARMO E. C. , CARVALHO C. R. O. , OLIVEIRA E. M.
Published: January 2020

AT1 receptor (AT1R) blockade prevents physiological cardiac hypertrophy induced by resistance training. Also, our group showed that a single bout of resistance exercise (RE) activates the AKT/mTOR which was also inhibited by AT1R blocker. Here, we investigated whether IGF1-receptor (IGF1-R) and MAPKs were also activated after a single bout of RE. Wistar rats were divided into Sedentary (Sed), Sedentary treated with losartan (Sed+LOS), Exercise (EX), and Exercise treated with losartan (EX+LOS). Cardiac tissue was obtained 5 and 30 min after 4 sets of 12 repetitions of squat exercise (80 % 1RM). We demonstrated that a single bout of RE did not induce IGF1-R tyrosine phosphorylation. ERK1/2 and P38 phosphorylation levels were elevated in the EX 5min and EX 30min groups however, only ERK1/2 was inhibited by losartan treatment (AT1R blocker). Next, we showed that β-arrestin-2 expression increased 28 % in trained animals compared to sedentary group. Altogether, our results demonstrate that AT1R, but not IGF1-R, may exert the hypertrophic cardiac stimulus RE-induced. Also, activation of AKT/mTOR and ERK1/2 pathways may occur through the β-arrestin-dependent pathway.
Animal Models in the Research of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Development
Authors: PATELIS N. , MORIS D. , SCHIZAS D. , DAMASKOS C. , PERREA D. , BAKOYIANNIS C. , LIAKAKOS T. , GEORGOPOULOS S.
Published: January 2020

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a prevalent and potentially life threatening disease. Many animal models have been developed to simulate the natural history of the disease or test preclinical endovascular devices and surgical procedures. The aim of this review is to describe different methods of AAA induction in animal models and report on the effectiveness of the methods described in inducing an analogue of a human AAA. The PubMed database was searched for publications with titles containing the following terms “animal” or ‘‘animal model(s)’’ and keywords “research”, “aneurysm(s)’’, “aorta”, “pancreatic elastase’’, “Angiotensin”, “AngII” “calcium chloride” or “CaCl2”. Starting date for this search was set to 2004, since previously bibliography was already covered by the review of Daugherty and Cassis (2004). We focused on animal studies that reported a model of aneurysm development and progression. A number of different approaches of AAA induction in animal models has been developed, used and combined since the first report in the 1960’s. Although specific methods are successful in AAA induction in animal models, it is necessary that these methods and their respective results are in line with the pathophysiology and the mechanisms involved in human AAA development. A researcher should know the advantages/disadvantages of each animal model and choose the appropriate model.
Cardiac Morphofunctional Characteristics of Transgenic Rats With Overexpression of the Bradykinin B1 Receptor in the Endothelium
Authors: LEVY R. F. , SERRA A. J. , ANTONIO E. L. , DOS SANTOS L. , BOCALINI D. S. , PESQUERO J. B. , BADER M. , MERINO V. F. , DE OLIVEIRA H. A. , DE ARRUDA VEIGA E. C. , SILVA J. A. , TUCCI P. J. F.
Published: January 2020

Our aim was to evaluate whether endothelial overexpressing of the bradykinin B1 receptor could be associated with altered left ventricular and myocardial performance. Echocardiography and hemodynamic were employed to assess left ventricular morphology and function in Sprague Dawley transgenic rats overexpressing the endothelial bradykinin B1 receptor (Tie2B1 rats). The myocardial inotropism was evaluated on papillary muscles contracting in vitro. In Tie2B1 animals, an enlarged left ventricular cavity and lower fractional shortening coupled with a lower rate of pressure change values indicated depressed left ventricular performance. Papillary muscle mechanics revealed that both Tie2B1 and wild-type rat groups had the same contractile capacities under basal conditions; however, in transgenic animals, there was accentuated inotropism due to post-pause potentiation. Following treatment with the Arg9-BK agonist, Tie2B1 papillary muscles displayed a reduction in myocardial inotropism. Endothelial B1 receptor overexpression has expanded the LV cavity and worsened its function. There was an exacerbated response of papillary muscle in vitro to a prolonged resting pause, and the use of a B1 receptor agonist impairs myocardial inotropism.
Assessing Muscular Oxygenation During Incremental Exercise Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy: Comparison of Three Different Methods
Authors: AGBANGLA N. F. , AUDIFFREN M. , ALBINET C. T.
Published: January 2020

Using continuous-wave near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), this study compared three different methods, namely the slope method (SM), the amplitude method (AM), and the area under the curve (AUC) method to determine the variations of intramuscular oxygenation level as a function of workload. Ten right-handed subjects (22±4 years) performed one isometric contraction at each of three different workloads (30 %, 50 % and 90 % of maximal voluntary strength) during a period of twenty seconds. Changes in oxyhemoglobin (Δ[HbO2]) and deoxyhemoglobin (Δ[HHb]) concentrations in the superficial flexor of fingers were recorded using continuous-wave NIRS. The results showed a strong consistency between the three methods, with standardized Cronbach alphas of 0.87 for Δ[HHb] and 0.95 for Δ[HbO2]. No significant differences between the three methods were observed concerning Δ[HHb] as a function of workload. However, only the SM showed sufficient sensitivity to detect a significant decrease in Δ[HbO2] between 30 % and 50 % of workload (p<0.01). Among these three methods, the SM appeared to be the only method that was well adapted and sensitive enough to determine slight changes in Δ[HbO2]. Theoretical and methodological implications of these results are discussed.
Roles of miR-31 and Endothelin-1 in Psoriasis Vulgaris: Pathophysiological Functions and Potential Biomarkers
Authors: BORSKA L. , ANDRYS C. , CHMELAROVA M. , KOVARIKOVA H. , KREJSEK J. , HAMAKOVA K. , BERANEK M. , PALICKA V. , KREMLACEK J. , BORSKY P. , FIALA Z.
Published: January 2020

Psoriatic lesions are characterized by hyperproliferation, aberrant differentiation of keratinocytes resistant to apoptosis and inflammation. miR-31 plays pro-proliferative, pro-differentiative and pro-inflammatory roles and modulates apoptosis in psoriatic keratinocytes. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is produced by psoriatic keratinocytes and suppresses apoptosis. Inflammation increases the production of ET-1, which in turn leads to the chronic stimulation of keratinocyte proliferation. The aim of this study was to identify the putative link between two potential biomarkers (miR-31 and ET-1) in patients with psoriasis. The study design included experimental group (29 patients with psoriasis), and the control group (22 blood donors). The PASI score evaluated the state of the disease (median: 18.6; interquartile range 14.5-20.9). Both, the serum level of ET-1 and the whole blood level of miR-31 were significantly increased (p<0.001 and p<0.05, respectively) in patients compared to the controls. However, a significant negative relationship between ET-1 and miR-31 was observed (Spearman’s rho=-037, p=0.05). It is possible that a negative feedback loop will be present between miR-31 and ET-1. Our results indicate that miR-31 and ET-1, potential biomarkers of the disease, play significant roles in the pathophysiology of psoriasis.
Amino Acid Concentrations and Protein Metabolism of Two Types of Rat Skeletal Muscle in Postprandial State and After Brief Starvation
Authors: HOLEČEK M. , MIČUDA S.
Published: January 2020

We have investigated amino acid concentrations and protein metabolism in musculus extensor digitorum longus (EDL, fast-twitch, white muscle) and musculus soleus (SOL, slow-twitch, red muscle) of rats sacrificed in the fed state or after one day of starvation. Fractional protein synthesis rates (FRPS) were measured using the flooding dose method (L-[3,4,5-3H]phenylalanine). Activities of two major proteolytic systems in muscle (the ubiquitin-proteasome and lysosomal) were examined by measurement of chymotrypsin like activity of proteasome (CTLA), expression of ubiquitin ligases atrogin-1 and muscle-ring-finger-1 (MuRF-1), and cathepsin B and L activities. Intramuscular concentrations of the most of non-essential amino acids, FRPS, CTLA and cathepsin B and L activities were in postprandial state higher in SOL when compared with EDL. The differences in atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 expression were insignificant. Starvation decreased concentrations of a number of amino acids and increased concentrations of valine, leucine, and isoleucine in blood plasma. Starvation also decreased intramuscular concentrations of a number of amino acids differently in EDL and SOL, decreased protein synthesis (by 31 % in SOL and 47 % in EDL), and increased expression of atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 in EDL. The effect of starvation on CTLA and cathepsin B and L activities was insignificant. It is concluded that slow-twitch (red) muscles have higher rates of protein turnover and may adapt better to brief starvation when compared to fast-twitch (white) muscles. This phenomenon may play a role in more pronounced atrophy of white muscles in aging and muscle wasting disorders.
Mutant Wars2 Gene in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats Impairs Brown Adipose Tissue Function and Predisposes to Visceral Obesity
Authors: PRAVENEC M. , ZÍDEK V. , LANDA V. , MLEJNEK P. , ŠILHAVÝ J. , ŠIMÁKOVÁ M. , TRNOVSKÁ J. , ŠKOP V. , MARKOVÁ I. , MALÍNSKÁ H. , HÜTTL M. , KAZDOVÁ L. , BARDOVÁ K. , TAUCHMANNOVÁ K. , VRBACKÝ M. , NŮSKOVÁ H. , MRÁČEK T. , KOPECKÝ J. , HOUŠTĚK J.
Published: January 2020

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays an important role in lipid and glucose metabolism in rodents and possibly also in humans. Identification of genes responsible for BAT function would shed light on underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of metabolic disturbances. Recent linkage analysis in the BXH/HXB recombinant inbred (RI) strains, derived from Brown Norway (BN) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), identified two closely linked quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with glucose oxidation and glucose incorporation into BAT lipids in the vicinity of Wars2 (tryptophanyl tRNA synthetase 2 (mitochondrial)) gene on chromosome 2. The SHR harbors L53F WARS2 protein variant that was associated with reduced angiogenesis and Wars2 thus represents a prominent positional candidate gene. In the current study, we validated this candidate as a quantitative trait gene (QTG) using transgenic rescue experiment. SHR-Wars2 transgenic rats with wild type Wars2 gene when compared to SHR, showed more efficient mitochondrial proteosynthesis and increased mitochondrial respiration, which was associated with increased glucose oxidation and incorporation into BAT lipids, and with reduced weight of visceral fat. Correlation analyses in RI strains showed that increased activity of BAT was associated with amelioration of insulin resistance in muscle and white adipose tissue. In summary, these results demonstrate important role of Wars2 gene in regulating BAT function and consequently lipid and glucose metabolism.
Silhouettes of invisible black holes
Authors: Dokuchaev V I , Nazarova N O
Published: January 2020

In general relativity, isolated black holes are invisible due to the infinitely large redshift of photons propagating from the event horizon to a remote observer. However, the dark shadow (silhouette) of a black hole can be visible on the background of matter radiation lensed by the gravitational field of the black hole. The black hole shadow is the celestial sphere projection of the cross section of photon capture by the black hole. If the illuminating background is far behind the black hole (at a distance much greater than the event horizon radius), a classic black hole shadow of a maximal size can also be observed. A minimal-size shadow can be observed if the same black hole is illuminated by the inner part of the accretion disk adjacent to the event horizon. In this case, the shadow of an accreting black hole is a lensed image of the northern or southern hemisphere of the event horizon, depending on the orientation of the black hole spin axis. A dark silhouette of the southern hemisphere of the event horizon is seen in the first image of the supermassive black hole M87* presented by the Event Horizon Telescope. The brightness of accretion matter is much higher than the corresponding one of the usual astrophysical stationary background in the form of numerous stars or extensive hot gas clouds. For this reason, it is improbable that a black hole shadow can be observed in the presence of very luminous accretion matter.
The Emergence and Development of the Muslim Political Identity in Kashmir 1846-1947
Authors: Bhat Ghulam Q.
Published: January 2020

The century long Dogra rule in Kashmir was tyranted and undemocratic that provoked resentment among the Muslim subjects. During this rule, the socio-economic conditions of the Muslims became unsympathetic which finally led to the political consciousness among them. The Muslims in the state started organizing themselves to raise their demands for reforms in education, employment, the structure of taxation, and constitutional changes among various other things. Eventually, the state witnessed the politicization of the Muslim community in the form of a series of protest against the Dogra rule from 1930 to 1947. As a result, Kashmir during Dogra rule saw the emergence and development of the Muslim political identity. This paper attempts to trace the formation of the sense of political identity of the Muslim community and the emergence and role of the religio-political groups in sharpening the political identity of the Muslims in Kashmir. The present Kashmir crisis lies in the hundred years before when Kashmir was ruled by the succession of Hindu Dogra rulers.
Teacher’s In-Service Professional Development Needs Assessment–The Pakistani Context
Authors: Pasha Aamna , Smith Yuling-Liu , Jeeva Shehzad
Published: January 2020

This paper explains the study of conducting a survey to assess the professional development needs of the teachers in schools affiliated with Aga Khan University – Examination Board (AKU-EB) with the aim of strategizing and designing teacher development programmes. An online survey was carried out with questions regarding the demographic information, teachers’ current practices and their professional training needs. There were 306 teachers who participated in this survey from affiliated schools from the provinces of Sindh, Punjab, Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.  The results show that teachers expressed a preference in using lecturing as the main teaching method and familiarity with relevant IT skills to perform their tasks to a large extent. They indicated a greater need for content-based support, different classroom teaching methods, understanding the syllabus for lesson planning, and developing classroom assessments. Particularly, they emphasized a strong need for using technological resources to improve teaching and student learning. However, they were less interested in developing students’ critical thinking and in teaching students how to learn.
Творці скла у ранньомодерну добу: між лісовими гутами та міськими цехами
Authors: Kurdyna Yuliia
Published: January 2020

У статті розкрито особливості організації скляного виробництва у лісових гутах і міських цехах через персонал, який безпосередньо був задіяний у виробничому процесі. Звертається увага на чинники, які провокували конкретний поділ обов’язків та описуються окремі «під-професії» у склярській справі. Простежується зв’язок між лісовими гутниками та міськими склярами.
Імператорська система іспитів у Стародавньому Китаї як метод запобігання корупції
Authors: Maslova Anastasiia
Published: January 2020

У статті досліджується давньокитайська екзаменаційна система, яка стала «п’ятим найбільшим винаходом» Китаю для формування прозорої урядової політики. Традиція складання екзаменів на державну службу в сучасних західних країнах бере свій початок від системи імператорських іспитів Стародавнього Китаю, адже Китай став першою країною у світі, яка обирає чиновників таким шляхом. Проте запобігання корупції на державній службі є найбільш серйозною та важливою проблемою серед усіх її проявів.
Долаючи стереотипи
Authors: Lukyanenko Oleksandr
Published: January 2020

Рецензія на книгу: Маслійчук В.Л. Здобутки та ілюзії. Культурно-освітні ініціативи на Лівобережній та Слобідській Україні другої половини XVIII – першої тре-тини ХІХ ст. Харків: Харківський приватний музей міської садиби, 2018. 540 с.
Відновлення та діяльність клубів на Миколаївщині у повоєнний період (1945-1955 рр.)
Authors: Marynchenko Hanna , Revenko Vira
Published: January 2020

Розкрито особливості відновлення та діяльності культурно-просвітницьких установ Миколаївської області на селі, їх культурну, просвітницьку та політико-масову роботу з селянством у повоєнний період. Діяльність всіх культурно-просвітницьких установ у досліджуваний період жорстко регламентувалася вищим партійним керівництвом. Суворо перевірявся репертуар і виконавці. Робота культпрацівників стримувалася партійною верхівкою, а розвиток культури гальмувався.
Політичні кулуарні інтриги довкола Гетьманщини у 1709-1764 рр.: погляд вітчизняних істориків
Authors: Salahub Liudmyla
Published: January 2020

У статті проаналізовано погляди вітчизняних істориків на політичну історію Гетьманщини періоду 1709-1764 рр. Висвітлено їхні світоглядні концепти щодо ставлення політичної еліти Гетьманщини до політики Петра І на теренах Лівобережної України, створення та функціонування Малоросійської колегії, особливостей формування вищої козацької верстви через призму сімейно-родинних зв’язків, лібералізаційних процесів, що відбувалися на теренах Російської імперії після смерті Петра І та відновлення гетьманства у 1727 р., а також «останньої сторінки» існування Гетьманщини.
Соціальні та культурні трансформації у житті українського селянства доби незалежності: історіографічний вимір
Authors: Khomenko Vladyslav
Published: January 2020

З’ясовано напрями висвітлення різноманітних аспектів соціального середовища українського селянства пострадянського періоду. Акцентовано увагу на оцінці українськими сучасними дослідниками соціальних і культурних трансформацій у житті українського села пострадянського періоду. Охарактеризовано доробки науковців щодо проблематики змін у соціальній структурі та соціально-демографічному складі мешканців села, соціально-культурних змін як вагомої складової досліджень представників Київської школи істориків-аграрників.
Культурна «модернізація» урбанізованих спільнот
Authors: Kryvosheia Ihor
Published: January 2020

Рецензія на книгу: Прищепа О. «Місця зустрічі»: культурне довкілля міст Правобережної України (кінець XVIII – початок ХХ ст.): монографія. Рівне: М. Дятлов, 2019. 688 с.
Study of Allelopathic Interaction of Essential Oils from Medicinal and Aromatic Plants on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Lettuce
Authors: Mirmostafaee Somayeh , Azizi Majid , Fujii Yoshiharu
Published: January 2020

Medicinal and aromatic plants have the ability to transmit volatile allelochemicals and affect their surrounding organisms. In this regard, their interaction should also be considered. The inhibitory effects of 112 essential oils on lettuce seed and seedling were investigated by cotton swab method. Germination (G%), Mean germination time (MGT), Lethal of embryo (L%), dormancy (D%), radicle growth (R%), and hypocotyl growth (H%) were measured. Two methods were used for evaluating allelopathic interaction effects: the simplified modified dilution check-board technique (SMCT) and the isobologram. Thymus daenensis had the highest inhibitory effect on G% (IC50 = 2.9 ppm) and the most lethal effect on the embryo (LC50 = 7.2 ppm). Thymus transcaspicus, Dracocephalum moldavica, Artemisia sieberi and Amomum subulatum had the greatest effect on MGT. Ziziphora tenuior, Trachyspermum ammi and Pelargonium graveolens had the highest effect on D%. Origanum vulgare was the strongest growth inhibitor. The highest synergistic effect on G% was in A. subulatum + Mentha suaveolens, on H% was related to Perovskia abrotanoides + T. daenensis, and on R% was observed in Artemisia vulgaris + M. suaveolens. The results of this study can lead to identification of new phytotoxic compounds in EOs and control weeds more effectively.
Water Balance and Nitrate and Salt Exports from a Saline–Sodic Irrigation District in Castelflorite (Huesca, NE Spain)
Authors: Andrés Raúl , Martín-Ramos Pablo , Cuchí José Antonio
Published: January 2020

In the current context of climate change, there is growing interest in the optimization of water management in irrigated areas, in semi-arid environments. The design of adequate adaptation and mitigation measures requires specific data at different scales of the water management hierarchy, up to basin level. In this work, the irrigation and drainage system of San Pedro de Castelflorite Irrigation Community (Huesca province, NE Spain), first set up as a flood irrigation system around 1970 and then modernized to sprinkler irrigation around 2008, was studied over two irrigation seasons. The land in this basin, with a surface of 11,450 ha, is affected by severe sodicity problems, which impedes cultivation in large areas. Most of the drainage water discharges into Clamor Vieja ravine, in which the quantity and quality of drainage, using water, salt, and nitrogen balances, were monitored. The water regime was found to be essentially regulated by irrigation. From the water balance, the consumed and the recoverable fractions were estimated at 76% and 23%, respectively, and the depleted beneficial fraction for the irrigated area at 73%. A predominance of salt dissolution processes over precipitation processes was found, with salt exports of approximately 2000 kg ha−1·year−1. The nitrogen exported by the drainage water was 7 kg N·ha−1·year−1. This value, remarkably lower than those reported for nearby basins in the central Ebro valley, can be attributed to the flooding of rice fields and to the low permeability of the soils present in this basin, which would hamper nitrate washing through the soil profile.
Cr(VI) Femoval from Ground Waters by Ferrous Iron Redox-Assisted Coagulation in a Continuous Treatment Unit Comprising a Plug Flow Pipe Reactor and Downflow Sand Filtration
Authors: Katsoyiannis Ioannis A. , Xanthopoulou Maria , Zouboulis Anastasios I.
Published: January 2020

Chromium(VI) (Cr(VI)) is the main chromium species found in groundwater and is considered as a highly toxic and carcinogenic element to humans. In the present study, removal of Cr(VI) by coagulation with ferrous iron is studied in a continuous flow treatment unit comprising pipe flocculation reactors followed by a sand filter. The studied parameters, regarding their effect on the removal of hexavalent chromium, were the ferrous iron dose, the effect of linear velocity, and the effect of the starting Cr(VI) concentration. The experiments have shown that the Cr(VI) removal achieved was very efficient and residual Cr(VI) and total Cr concentration in the treated water was lower than 10 μg/L, provided that the required dose of ferrous iron is provided. In particular, the study demonstrated that the removal of hexavalent chromium, from initial concentration of 50 μg/L and 100 μg/L, was more than 90% with ferrous doses of 1 mg/L and 2 mg/L respectively, applying linear velocity of 8 m/h, at an initial pH value of 7.3. Iron concentration in treated water was very low, far below 200 μg/L, which is the limit for iron in drinking water. This unit comprises a simple treatment option, for applications at the household level, with minimum maintenance requirements capable of removing Cr(VI) to concentrations below 10 μg/L, which might be the future limit for chromium in drinking water.
Object-Independent Grasping in Heavy Clutter
Authors: Jo HyunJun , Song Jae-Bok
Published: January 2020

When grasping objects in a cluttered environment, a key challenge is to find appropriate poses to grasp effectively. Accordingly, several grasping algorithms based on artificial neural networks have been developed recently. However, these methods require large amounts of data for learning and high computational costs. Therefore, we propose a depth difference image-based bin-picking (DBP) algorithm that does not use a neural network. DBP predicts the grasp pose from the object and its surroundings, which are obtained through depth filtering and clustering. The object region is estimated by the density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) algorithm, and a depth difference image (DDI) that represents the depth difference between adjacent areas is defined. To validate the performance of the DBP scheme, bin-picking experiments were conducted on 45 different objects, along with bin-picking experiments in heavy clutters. DBP exhibited success rates of 78.6% and 83.3%, respectively. In addition, DBP required a computational time of approximately 1.4 s for each attempt.
High-Resolution Hologram Calculation Method Based on Light Field Image Rendering
Authors: Yang Xin , Xu FuYang , Zhang HanLe , Zhang HongBo , Huang Kai , Li Yong , Wang QiongHua
Published: January 2020

A fast calculation method for a full parallax high-resolution hologram is proposed based on elemental light field image (EI) rendering. A 3D object located near the holographic plane is firstly rendered as multiple EIs with a pinhole array. Each EI is interpolated and multiplied by a divergent sphere wave and interfered with a reference wave to form a hogel. Parallel acceleration is used to calculate the high-resolution hologram because the calculation of each hogel is independent. A high-resolution hologram with the resolution of 200,000 × 200,000 pixels is calculated within only eight minutes. Full parallax high-resolution 3D displays are realized by optical reconstructions.