bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Potentiation Increases Peak Twitch Torque by Enhancing Rates of Torque Development and Relaxation
Authors: Froyd Christian , Beltrami Fernando Gabe , Jensen Jørgen , Noakes Timothy David 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
The aim of this study was to measure the extent to which potentiation changes in response to an isometric maximal voluntary contraction. Eleven physically active subjects participated in two separate studies. Single stimulus of electrical stimulation of the femoral nerve was used to measure torque at rest in unpotentiated quadriceps muscles (study 1 and 2), and potentiated quadriceps muscles torque in a 10 min period after a 5 s isometric maximal voluntary contraction of the quadriceps muscles (study 1). Additionally, potentiated quadriceps muscles torque was measured every min after a further 10 maximal voluntary contractions repeated every min (study 2). Electrical stimulation repeated several times without previous maximal voluntary contraction showed similar peak twitch torque. Peak twitch torque 4 s after a 5 s maximal voluntary contraction increased by 45±13% (study 1) and by 56±10% (study 2), the rate of torque development by 53±13% and 82±29%, and the rate of relaxation by 50±17% and 59±22%, respectively, but potentiation was lost already two min after a 5 s maximal voluntary contraction. There was a tendency for peak twitch torque to increase for the first five repeated maximal voluntary contractions, suggesting increased potentiation with additional maximal voluntary contractions. Correlations for peak twitch torque vs the rate of torque development and for the rate of relaxation were r2= 0.94 and r2=0.97. The correlation between peak twitch torque, the rate of torque development and the rate of relaxation suggests that potentiation is due to instantaneous changes in skeletal muscle contractility and relaxation.
Estimating the Energy Costs of Intermittent Exercise
Authors: Scott Christopher B. , Fountaine Charles 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
To date, steady state models represent the only acceptable methodology for the estimation of exercise energy costs. Conversely, comparisons made between continuous and intermittent exercise generally reveal major physiological discrepancies, leading to speculation as to why steady state energy expenditure models should be applied to intermittent exercise. Under intermittent conditions, skeletal muscle invokes varying aerobic and anaerobic metabolic responses, each with the potential to make significant contributions to overall energy costs. We hypothesize that if the aerobic-only energetic profile of steady state exercise can be used to estimate the energetics of non-steady state and intermittent exercise, then the converse also must be true. In fact, reasonable estimates of energy costs to work volumes or work rates can be demonstrated under steady state, non-steady state and intermittent conditions; the problem with the latter two is metabolic variability. Using resistance training as a model, estimates of both aerobic and anaerobic energy cost components, as opposed to one or the other, have reduced the overall energetic variability that appears inherent to brief, intense, intermittent exercise models.
Relationship Between Fatigue Index and Number of Repetition Maxima with Sub-Maximal Loads in Biceps Curl
Authors: Pekünlü Ekim , Atalağ Ozan 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the number of repetition maxima to volitional failure (RM) at 60%, 75%, 90% of 1RM and fatigue index (FI), a determinant of the muscular endurance level. Thirty four resistance trained male participants attended two testing sessions. The first session was conducted to assess 1RM load and RM at 60%, 75% and 90% of 1RM in the supine biceps curl (SBC) exercise. In the second session, a FI test protocol consisting of five sets of SBC with 90 s rest between sets was performed to determine FI values. Each set was performed to volitional failure using a sub-maximal load in the range of 15-20RM. Hypothetical high FI and low FI groups (17 participants with the highest and lowest FI values, respectively) were formed for statistical analyses. ANOVA results revealed that RM at 60%, 75%, 90% of 1RM were not significantly different between FI groups when controlled for mean repetition tempo (p=0.11, p=0.38, p=0.13, respectively). Pearson’s correlation coefficients revealed that no significant relationship was present between FI values and RM at 60%, 75%, 90% of 1RM (p=0.40, p=0.46, p=0.14, respectively). In conclusion, the muscular endurance level of participants defined in terms of FI value was not an indicator of RM in SBC. Therefore, athletes with different muscular endurance levels can use similar percentages of 1RM in biceps curl exercise in their training programs when the aim is to elicit training adaptations related to specific RM zones.
A Decade of Euroleague Basketball: an Analysis of Trends and Recent Rule Change Effects
Authors: Štrumbelj Erik , Vračar Petar , Robnik-Šikonja Marko , Dežman Brane , Erčulj Frane 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) recently introduced major rule changes that came into effect with the 2010/11 season. Most notably, moving the three-point arc and changing the shot-clock. The purpose of this study was to investigate and quantify how these changes affect the game performance of top-level European basketball players. In order to better understand these changes, we also investigated past seasons and showed the presence of several trends, even in the absence of significant rule changes. A large set of game statistics for 10 seasons and 2198 Euroleague basketball games in which top European clubs competed was analyzed. Results show that the effects of the rule changes are contrary to trends in recent years
Sex ratio adjustment in birds
Authors: Szász Eszter , Kiss Dorottya , Rosivall Balázs 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
In a number of bird species, the sex ratio of the broods is not random, instead it is related to parental quality and environmental conditions. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain this phenomenon, the so called sex ratio adjustment. According to these hypotheses, sex ratio adjustment is expected to evolve when the fitness benefit an offspring confers to the parents changes with ecological or social factors in a sex-specific way. Though many correlative and experimental studies support these hypotheses, there are still unresolved problems. In our paper, we provide details on the hypotheses related to sex ratio adjustment and explanations for the differences observed in sex ratio patterns between populations and years. Finally, we discuss the importance of sex ratio adjustment for species conservation.
Application of Shape From Shading Technique for Side Scan Sonar Images
Authors: Bikonis Krzysztof , Moszynski Marek , Lubniewski Zbigniew 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Digital signal processing technology has revolutionized a way of processing, visualisation and interpretation of data acquired by underwater systems. Through many years side scan sonars were one of the most widely used imaging systems in the underwater environment. Although they are relatively cheap and easy to deploy, more powerful sensors like multibeam echo sounders and sonars are widely used today and deliver 3D bathymetry of sea bottom terrain. Side scan sonar outputs data usually in a form of grey level 2D acoustic images but the analysis of such pictures performed by human eye allows creating semi-spatial impressions of seafloor relief and morphology. Hence the idea of post-processing the side scan sonar data in a manner similar to human eye to obtain 3D visualisation.
In recently developing computer vision systems the shape from shading approach is well recognized technique. Applying it to side scan sonar data is challenging idea used by several authors. In the paper, some further extensions are presented. They rely on processing the backscattering information of each footprint (pixel in sonar image) along with its surroundings. Additionally, a current altitude is estimated from the size of shadow areas. Both techniques allow constructing 3D representation of sea bottom relief or other investigated underwater objects.
Determination of cavities using electrical resistivity tomography
Authors: Putiška René , Nikolaj Maroš , Dostál Ivan , Kušnirák David 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Geophysical surveys for cavity detection are one of the most common nearsurface applications. The usage of resistivity methods is also very straightforward for the air-filled underground voids, which should have theoretically infinite resistivity in the ERT image. In the first part of the paper, we deal with the comparison of detectability of the cavity by several types of the electrode arrays, the second part discusses the effect of a thin layer around the cavity itself, by means of 2D modelling. The presence of this layer deforms the resistivity image significantly as the resistive anomaly could be turned into a conductive one, in the case when the thin layer is more conductive than the background environment. From the electrical array analysis for the model situation a dipole-dipole and combined pole-dipole shows the best results among the other involved electrical arrays.
Effects of Superabsorbent and Irrigation Regime on Seedling Growth Characteristics of Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.)
Authors: Jalilian J. , Mohsennia O. 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Greenhouse experiment was carried out to study the effects of superabsorbent and water deficit stress on seedling growth of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in Urmia University of Iran. Three amounts of superabsorbent polymer (0 (S1), 2 (S2) and 4 g (S3) were mixed with 500 g soil before sowing, and four levels of irrigation regimes (irrigation at 20 (I1), 40 (I2), 60 (I3) and 80% (I3) field capacity) were set as treatments. The root length, root volume, root and shoot dry weight, plant height, leaf length, leaf width, SPAD and root-shoot ratio were affected by treatments. Means comparisons indicated that the highest root length (19 cm) observed in the I4 irrigation regime and the lowest of it (16.18 cm) obtained in I1 condition. Barley plants that received 4 g and no superabsorbent had the utmost (1.13 cm) and lowest (0.54 cm) root volume, respectively. Whereas plant situated in I4 and I1 irrigation regimes produced greatest and smallest amount amount of shoot dry weight and SPAD. The maximum (12.83 cm) and minimum (8.33 cm) leaf length was obtained from S3I3 and S1I1 condition, respectively. Generally, the results showed the most of measured barley seedling traits in irrigation at 40 % field capacity (I2) were the equal with I3 and I4 irrigation regimes treatments, which indicated the resistance of barley seedling to the water deficit stress. Also, we found that the improving of root dry weight and root volume of barley seedling along with increasing in the superabsorbent application.
Effect of Foliar Application of Silicon on Yield and Quality of Rice (Oryza Sativa L)
Authors: Ahmad A. , Afzal M. , Ahmad A.U.H. , Tahir M. 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
A field experiment was conducted at University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, to investigate the effect of foliar application of silicon on yield and quality of fine rice (Oryza sativa L.). The research was designed as randomized complete block design (RCBD) having three replications and 6m x 4.5m net plot size was maintained. Foliar applications of silicon’s aqueous solution were used as treatments comprised of control, 0.25%, 0.50%, 1.00% silicon solutions. Nursery of 30 days old seedling nursery was transplanted to the plots under aerobic condition and 22.5cm hill to hill distance was maintained. Sodium silicate (20.35% Si) as the source of silicon (soluble in warm water) was used. Fertilizer inputs as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were uniformly applied at the rate of 100, 67, 67 kg ha-1 while all other agronomic practices were kept constant for all the treatments. The data from the field (yield components) as well as lab analysis (quality parameters) was recorded according to the standard procedures. Fisher’s analysis of the variance technique was used for statistical analysis and treatment’s mean differences were compared using least significant difference (LSD) test at 5% probability level. Silicon showed no significant effect on plant height, harvest index, number of kernels and opaque kernels percentage. Silicon (0.50% silicon solution) produced maximum grain diameter and grain protein while silicon @ 1.00% silicon solution resulted maximum in number of productive tillers, straw yield, spike per panicle, 1000 grain weight, paddy yield and grain starch. All others parameters have overlapping results of different silicon levels.
Hormone Priming Improves Germination Characteristics and Enzyme Activity of Sorghum Seeds (Sorghum Bicolor L.) Under Accelerated Aging
Authors: Azadi M.S. , Tabatabaei S.A. , Younesi E. , Rostami M.R. , Mombeni M. 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Maximum germination percentage achieves immediately after harvesting and gradually decreases with storage time. Aging is one of the key factors in plant yield loss especially in vegetables. Seed aging is the main problem of seed storage. Application of accelerated aging treatment is used to assess seed vigor and quality. Seed priming enhances seed germination performance after aging. An experiment was conduct in order to investigate the activity of catalase and ascorbate peroxidase during accelerated aging and repair during priming treatment of sorghum seeds. In order to improve germination characteristics in aged seeds with seed priming. Our result showed that seed priming treatments significantly (p≤ 0.01) affected, germination percentage, germination index and means time to germination after aging (0, 3 and 6 days). Increasing aging duration resulted higher reduction in germination characteristics. Priming with gibberelic acid (GA), salicylic acid (SA) and ascorbic acid (ASC) increased germination characteristics of seed aged. The highest germination percentage, germination index, normal seedling percentage and enzyme activity were achieved in control conditions (0 day of aging). Antioxidant activity of aged seeds increased after seed priming.
Performance of Promising Lentil (Lens Culinaris Medik.) Cultivars at Different Nitrogen Rates Under Irrigated Conditions of Faisalabad, Pakistan
Authors: Rahman M.H. , Wajid S.A. , Afzal M. , Ahmad A. , Awais M. , Irfan M. , Ahmad A.U.H. 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Lentil is a short stature, semierect, rabi legume plant cultivated on large area in Pakistan. It is a main source of vegetable protein in human diet. A field study was conducted, to evaluate the effect of nitrogen application on different agrophysiological traits of three lentil cultivars. The experiment was conducted at the Agronomic Research Area, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. The experiment was laid out in splot plot design with three replicates. The three cultivars were: Punjab Masoor (PM)-2009, NIAB Masoor (NM)- 2006 and NIAB Masoor (NM)-2002) were randomized in main plots and three levels of nitrogen (13, 19 and 25 kg ha-1) in sub-plots. The results showed that various cultivars and nitrogen rates significantly affected the lentil growth, yield and related traits. PM- 2009 performed the best under irrigated semiarid environment of Faisalabad; it gave the highest seed yield (972 kg ha-1). Maximum number of pods plant-1 (47.29), number of grains pod-1 (1.80), 1000-seed weight (21.89 g), grain yield (877.09 kg ha-1) and biological yield (3954.5 kg ha-1) were recorded against 25 kg N ha-1. It was concluded that sowing PM-2009 at 25 kg N ha-1 is best strategy enhance grain yield of lentil in Faisalabad conditions.
Influence of oil-in-water emulsions on fluorescence properties as observed by excitation-emission spectra
Authors: Baszanowska E. , Zielinski O. , Otremba Z. , Toczek H. 
Published: October 2013

Oil poses a major threat to marine ecosystems. This work describes a set of studies focused on introducing an efficient method for the identification of oil in the form of oil emulsions through fluorescence spectra analyses. Hence the concept of classification of oil pollution in seawater based on fluorescence spectroscopy using a high sensitive fluorimeter [1] suitable for laboratory and in situ measurements is introduced. We consider that this approach, in the future, will make it possible to collect specific fluorescence information allowing us to build a base of the oil standards.
Here we examined excitation-emission fluorescence spectra (EEMs) of water containing oil-in-water emulsion prepared artificially under laboratory conditions. Water polluted with oil-in-water emulsion was studied with the objective to estimate differences in three-dimensional fluorescence spectra. Studies included various types of oils and oil concentrations. Essential differences in fluorescence spectra for various oils are indicated.
Prevalence of multidrug resistance in human pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus and their sensitivity to Allamanda cathartica L. leaf extract
Authors: Chowdhury Md. Al Nayem , Hossain Md. Nazmul , Rahman Md. Mahbubur , Ashrafuzzaman Md. 
Published: October 2013

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the major pathogen responsible for skin infection, urinary tract infection (UTI) and endocarditis in human. The study was performed to determine the prevalence of multidrug resistant S. aureus in human clinical sample and to evaluate their sensitivity to Allamanda cathartica L. leaf extract. A total of 12 isolates were identified belongs to S. aureus by performing several physiological and biochemical tests. The isolates exhibited highest resistant (75%) to streptomycin and lowest (33.33%) against co-trimoxazole followed by disc diffusion assay of eight antibiotics tested. The other four antibiotics such as azithromycin, chloramphenicol, gentamycin and erythromycin exhibited 50 to 66.67% resistant to present isolates. Here we found that 75% of S. aureus isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). The crude leaf extract of A. cathartica L. found to possess antibacterial properties at the rate of 83.33% against S. aureus isolates with 12-22 mm zone of inhibition. Results of TLC states that Benzene : Ethyl acetate (1:1) solvent system was more effective for initial separation of compound from crude leaf extract resulted three distinct bands with different Rf values ranging from 0.53 to 0.89. The result of this study refers that A. cathartica L. leaf extract would be useful to develop effective drugs that would reduce the higher prevalence of multidrug resistance S. aureus causing clinical infection in human.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/icpj.v2i11.16525 International Current Pharmaceutical Journal, October 2013, 2(11): 185-188
STAT-3 Activation by Differential Cytokines Is Critical for Human In Vivo–Generated Plasma Cell Survival and Ig Secretion
Authors: Rodríguez-Bayona Beatriz , Ramos-Amaya Ana , López-Blanco Rubén , Campos-Caro Antonio , Brieva José A. 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Maturation and survival of plasma cells (PCs) depends on extrinsic factors provided in specialized niches. In addition, B lymphocyte differentiation into PCs requires the activation of the JAK–STAT-3 pathway. However, whether STAT-3 is needed only during the transition of B lymphocytes to PC, or it is also involved in the survival and function of PCs at different stages of maturation, has not been unequivocally clarified. This study analyzes the effect of IL-10, IL-21, and IL-6 on human in vivo–generated PCs isolated from secondary lymphoid organs, blood (circulating, recently Ag-induced PCs), and bone marrow. PCs from these different organs show specific profiles of receptors for, and responsiveness to, these cytokines required for their survival and sustained Ab secretion. However, IL-10, IL-21, and IL-6 commonly induce STAT-3 phosphorylation in the three PC subsets, and all of their effects are exerted strictly through the STAT-3 activation. The inhibition or nonactivation of this pathway in the three PC populations impairs not only the effect of STAT-3–activating cytokines, but also the action of other cytokines important at the PC level, including a proliferation-induced ligand, BAFF, insulin-like growth factor 1, vascular endothelial growth factor, and stromal cell–derived factor-1α. These results indicate that STAT-3 activation is critical for human PCs throughout their maturation.
Restructuring the Orthopedic Resident Research Curriculum to Increase Scholarly Activity
Authors: Robbins Laura , Bostrom Mathias , Marx Robert , Roberts Timothy , Sculco Thomas P. 
Published: October 2013

Abstract

Background
Limited time and funding are challenges to meeting the research requirement of the orthopedic residency curriculum.

Objective
We report a reorganized research curriculum that increases research quality and productivity at our academic orthopedic medical center.

Methods
Changes made to the curriculum, which began in 2006 and were fully phased in by 2008, included research milestones for each training year, a built-in support structure, use of an accredited bio-skills laboratory, mentoring by National Institutes of Health–funded scientists, and protected time to engage in required research and prepare scholarly peer-reviewed publications.

Results
Total grant funding of resident research increased substantially, from $15,000 in 2007 (8 graduates) to $380,000 in 2010 (9 graduates), and the number of publications also increased. The 12 residents who graduated in 2005 published 16 papers from 2000 to 2006, compared to 84 papers published by the 9 residents who graduated in 2010. The approximate costs per year included $19,000 (0.3 full-time equivalent) for an academic research coordinator; $16,000 for resident travel to professional meetings; reimbursement for 213 faculty hours; and funding for resident salaries while on the research rotation, paid through the general hospital budget.

Conclusions
The number of grants and peer-reviewed publications increased considerably after our residency research curriculum was reorganized to allow dedicated research time and improved mentoring and infrastructure.