Effects of low-dose irradiation and storage time on pork chops of varying quality

This study was conducted to determine the effects of low-dose irradiation on physiochemical and microbiological characteristics of pale, soft and exudative (PSE), normal, and dark, firm, dry (DFD) vacuum-packaged pork chops. Pork chops were irradiated at 0, 3 and 5 kGy and held for 6 weeks at 40C. Color, lipid oxidation, pH, exudate and microbial counts of chops were measured every two weeks during storage. For lipid oxidation, the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values were affected by meat quality, irradiation dose and storage time. DFD chops had higher TBARS values than PSE and normal chops. PSE and normal pork chops did not differ in TBARS values. TBARS values increased with increasing irradiation dose and storage time. CIE L*, b* and a* were used to measure color changes during storage. Among controls, PSE pork chops were lighter than DFD and normal chops. Higher CIE b* values were found in PSE samples when compared to DFD and normal samples, and the control samples had higher b* values than irradiated samples. Irradiated samples had higher b* values for DFD and normal samples when compared to control samples. But the comparison between 3kGy and 5kGy irradiated chops indicated that there was no significant difference. Also the yellowness increased during storage time. Redness was not affected by meat quality. But, irradiation dose increased CIE a* values when pork chops were irradiated at the higher dose. Redness decreased during storage time. PSE samples had lower pH values and more exudate than normal and DFD samples. Different doses of irradiation did not affect pH changes. But the pH values decreased during storage time. Meat is a good medium for bacterial growth. In this study five groups of microorganisms were tested and compared among the meat with different quality and treated with different irradiation doses. Most of bacteria in this study were undetectable at 5kGy irradiation dose. Higher dose can efficiently kill bacteria to extend the shelf life. All samples, which were irradiated at 5kGy, had very low microbial counts. Most irradiated samples had bacteria growth after 4 weeks at 40C. Different quality meat provided different pH levels which affected the microbial counts, especially in DFD meat samples. Aerobic mesophilic, psychrotrophic, Enterobacteriacae, and anaerobic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms were found in higher numbers in DFD samples than PSE and normal. These bacteria couldn\u27t grow well in the low pH conditions (PSE), but pH didn\u27t significantly affect lactobacilli in any quality meat. Psychrotrophic, Enterobacteriance were sensitive to 3 and 5kGy when compared to other microogranisms

Pro-collaborative mobile systems in next generation IP networks

Computing system designs of today take on either the interactive or the proactive form. Motivated by the user’s desire to make his/her computing experience more intelligent and personalised, the progression from interactive (human-centred) to proactive (human-supervised) is evident. It can be observed that current research mainly emphasises the user as the dominant focus of a user-system interaction. Consider a model that we called the opponent-process model. It contains two processes, one representing the user and the other the system, where both processes are capable of dominating each other, though working collaboratively towards a predefined task. We argue the necessity to design computing systems which are balanced in this model, such that the system process, at times, becomes the dominant process. We refer to this as the pro-collaborative design form. We dissect mobility into the notion of a nomadic user and the notion of a nomadic system. The examination into the nomadic user problem space reveals the potential for applying the pro-collaborative approach in optimising handoff management. Significant performance advantages can be obtained with our proposed S-MIP framework, based on the pro-collaborative design, when compared with established handoff latency optimisation schemes. The key differentiator lies in its indicative approach in addressing handoff ambiguity. Instead of passively anticipating through prediction as to when a mobile user might cross network boundaries (user-dominant), the system actively indicates to the user when, where and how to handoff (system-dominant). This eliminates the handoff ambiguity. Regarding the notion of a nomadic system, that is, the ability to move services offered by computing systems to arbitrary points in the Internet, we explore the idea of the dynamic extension of network services to a mobile user on-demand. Based on the pro-collaborative form, we develop the METAMORPHOSE architecture which facilitates such a dynamic service extension. By assuming the proliferation of programmable network switches and computational resources within the Internet, we re-examine how ‘loose’ service agreements between network services providers can be, to achieve such borderless moving-service offerings. The viability of the pro-collaborative form is reflected through our design and implementation of protocols and architectures which address the notion of nomadic user and nomadic system

THE ACUTE EFFECT OF UPPER EXTREMITY PLYOMETRIC TRAINING

The purpose of this study was to probe the acute effect of the performance of upper extremity muscle groups after the plyometric training intervention. The participants were 13 healthy male college students. The force transducers (300kg, 200 Hz) and EMG sensor (1000 Hz) were taken to diagnose the acute effects of strength and muscle activation done by upper extremity pre and post plyometric training (load :24kg, 12 repetiiion times Iset, 3 set), and pair t-test was taken to test the significance(a=.05). The result showed that the strength after the upper extremity plyometric training intervention obviously had decreased 8% (

CRONOS: Colorization and Contrastive Learning for Device-Free NLoS Human Presence Detection using Wi-Fi CSI

In recent years, the demand for pervasive smart services and applications has increased rapidly. Device-free human detection through sensors or cameras has been widely adopted, but it comes with privacy issues as well as misdetection for motionless people. To address these drawbacks, channel state information (CSI) captured from commercialized Wi-Fi devices provides rich signal features for accurate detection. However, existing systems suffer from inaccurate classification under a non-line-of-sight (NLoS) and stationary scenario, such as when a person is standing still in a room corner. In this work, we propose a system called CRONOS (Colorization and Contrastive Learning Enhanced NLoS Human Presence Detection), which generates dynamic recurrence plots (RPs) and color-coded CSI ratios to distinguish mobile people from vacancy in a room, respectively. We also incorporate supervised contrastive learning to retrieve substantial representations, where consultation loss is formulated to differentiate the representative distances between dynamic and stationary cases. Furthermore, we propose a self-switched static feature enhanced classifier (S3FEC) to determine the utilization of either RPs or color-coded CSI ratios. Our comprehensive experimental results show that CRONOS outperforms existing systems that apply machine learning, non-learning based methods, as well as non-CSI based features in open literature. CRONOS achieves the highest presence detection accuracy in vacancy, mobility, line-of-sight (LoS), and NLoS scenarios

AKT/mTOR as Novel Targets of Polyphenol Piceatannol Possibly Contributing to Inhibition of Proliferation of Cultured Prostate Cancer Cells

The polyphenol piceatannol has shown inhibition against tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases. Whether piceatannol also exerts activity on the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a kinase involved in growth control of eukaryotic cells, is not known. In this study, we tested the effects of piceatannol on proliferation of androgen-dependent (AD) LNCaP and androgen-independent (AI) DU145 and PC-3 prostate cancer (CaP) cells. Suppression of AD and AI CaP cell growth by piceatannol was accompanied by cell cycle blockade in G1/S and S phases for LNCaP and PC-3 and induction of apoptosis in DU145 cells. Induction of apoptosis by piceatannol in DU145 cells was evident by reduced expression of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), cleavage of caspase 3 and apoptosis inducing factor AIF, and an increase in cytochrome c. The apoptotic changes occurred in concordance with DNA damage, supported by increased phosphorylated histone H2AX. Immunoblot analyses showed that exposure of different-stage CaP cells to piceatannol also resulted in cell-type-specific downregulation of mTOR and its upstream and downstream effector proteins, AKT and eIF-4E-BP1. We propose that the observed AKT and mTOR changes are new targets of piceatannol possibly contributing to its inhibitory activities on proliferation of CaP cells

Trogodišnji trend promjena tjelesne pripremljenosti i indeksa tjelesne mase u učenika u dobi od 12 do 16 godina s ekstremnim indeksima tjelesne mase

The aim of this study was to investigate a three-year development in BMI and physical fitness of schoolchildren aged 12-16 years with extreme weight status. Taiwan Physical Fitness Test Battery, assessing aerobic fitness (1600-meter walk/run test), power (standing long jump), muscular endurance (sit-up), and flexibility (sit-and-reach) in 16,945 boys, was implemented in September from the year 2006 till 2008. Overweight and underweight were defined by the baseline BMI data values that fall within the highest and lowest 5% of their age population, whereas the BMI data values that fall within one standard deviation of the mean was considered “normal” in this study. The results showed that BMI of schoolchildren in 2006 was ~2–3 kg/m2 above the national average reported in 1993. All physical fitness components in the overweight group were substantially poorer than those in the normal group. Yet, these fitness parameters were improved over the three years in all groups. BMI in the underweight group increased at a faster rate than that in the normal and overweight groups. No difference was found in the jumping distance between the underweight and normal groups. Aerobic fitness in the underweight group was superior but flexibility and muscular endurance were slightly lower than those in the normal group. BMI of Taiwan schoolchildren increased substantially from 1993 to 2006 but leveled off from 2006 to 2008. Underweight schoolchildren during the growing period should not a priori be considered as physically weaker or unfit individuals.Cilj je ovog istraživanja bio ustanoviti trogodišnji trend razvoja indeksa tjelesne mase (ITM) i tjelesne pripremljenosti u učenika, u dobi između 12 i 16 godina, s ekstremnim vrijednostima tjelesne težine. Tajvanski sklop testova za tjelesnu pripremljenosti (Taiwan Physical Fitness Test Battery), koja uključuje procjenu aerobne pripremljenosti (test hodanja/ trčanja na 1600 metara), eksplozivne snage (skok u dalj s mjesta), mišićne izdržljivosti (podizanje trupa iz ležanja na leđima) i fleksibilnosti (sjed-i-dohvat), primijenjen je od 2006 do 2008 godine u mjesecu rujnu na uzorku od 16.945 dječaka. Preteški (overweight) i prelagani (underweight) ispitanici bili su definirani prema inicijalnoj vrijednosti ITM-a za dobnu skupinu populacije ispitanika kao oni koji se ubrajaju među 5% s najvišim odnosno najnižim vrijednostima ITM. Ispitanici koji su se nalazili unutar jedne standardne devijacije smatrali su se „normalnima“. Rezultati su pokazali da je ITM tajvanskih učenika u 2006. godini bio za ~2–3kg/m2 veći od nacionalnog prosjeka objavljenog 1993. godine. Sve varijable tjelesne pripremljenosti u grupi prekomjerno teških bile su značajno lošije u odnosu na rezultate koje su postigli ispitanici u normalnoj grupi. Ipak, rezultati su se u svim mjerenim varijablama u svim grupama poboljšali tijekom 3 godine mjerenja. ITM je u grupi nedovoljno teških porastao većom brzinom nego u grupama normalnih i prekomjerno teških učenika. Nije utvrđena značajna razlika u rezultatima skoka u dalj s mjesta između grupa nedovoljno teških i normalnih ispitanika. Nedovoljno teški ispitanici imali su najbolje rezultate u aerobnoj izdržljivosti u odnosu na ostale grupe, dok su u fleksibilnosti i mišićnoj izdržljivosti bili nešto slabiji nego ispitanici u normalnoj grupi. ITM je u tajvanske djece značajno porastao u razdoblju od 1993. do 2006. godine, ali je i stagnirao u razdoblju od 2006. do 2008. godine. Nedovoljno teška djeca ne bi se smjela a priori smatrati fizički slabijom ili nespremnom tijekom perioda odrastanja

An Analysis System for Integrating High-Throughput Transcript Abundance Data with Metabolic Pathways in Green Algae

As the most important non-vascular plants, algae have many research applications, including high species diversity, biofuel sources, adsorption of heavy metals and, following processing, health supplements. With the increasing availability of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data for algae genomes and transcriptomes, an integrated resource for retrieving gene expression data and metabolic pathway is essential for functional analysis and systems biology in algae. However, gene expression profiles and biological pathways are displayed separately in current resources, and making it impossible to search current databases directly to identify the cellular response mechanisms. Therefore, this work develops a novel AlgaePath database to retrieve gene expression profiles efficiently under various conditions in numerous metabolic pathways. AlgaePath, a web-based database, integrates gene information, biological pathways, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) datasets in Chlamydomonasreinhardtii and Neodesmus sp. UTEX 2219-4. Users can identify gene expression profiles and pathway information by using five query pages (i.e. Gene Search, Pathway Search, Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) Search, Gene Group Analysis, and Co-Expression Analysis). The gene expression data of 45 and 4 samples can be obtained directly on pathway maps in C. reinhardtii and Neodesmus sp. UTEX 2219-4, respectively. Genes that are differentially expressed between two conditions can be identified in Folds Search. Furthermore, the Gene Group Analysis of AlgaePath includes pathway enrichment analysis, and can easily compare the gene expression profiles of functionally related genes in a map. Finally, Co-Expression Analysis provides co-expressed transcripts of a target gene. The analysis results provide a valuable reference for designing further experiments and elucidating critical mechanisms from high-throughput data. More than an effective interface to clarify the transcript response mechanisms in different metabolic pathways under various conditions, AlgaePath is also a data mining system to identify critical mechanisms based on high-throughput sequencing

Differential roles of serotonin receptor subtypes in regulation of neurotrophin receptor expression and intestinal hypernociception

Objectives. Aberrant serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) metabolism and neurite outgrowth were associated with abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We previously demonstrated that 5-HT receptor subtype 7 (5-HT7) was involved in visceral hypersensitivity of IBS-like mouse models. The aim was to compare the analgesic effects of a novel 5-HT7 antagonist to reference standards in mouse models and investigate the mechanisms of 5-HT7-dependent neuroplasticity. Methods. Two mouse models, including Giardia post-infection combined with water avoidance stress (GW) and post-resolution of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis (PT) were used. Mice were orally administered CYY1005 (CYY, a novel 5-HT7 antagonist), alosetron (ALN, a 5-HT3 antagonist), and loperamide (LPM, an opioid receptor agonist) prior to measurement of visceromotor responses (VMR). Levels of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neurotrophin receptors (NTRs) were assessed. Results. Peroral CYY was more potent than ALN or LPM in reducing VMR values in GW and PT mice. Increased mucosal 5-HT7-expressing nerve fibers were associated with elevated Gap43 levels in the mouse colon. We observed higher colonic Ntrk2 and Ngfr expression in GW mice, and increased Bdnf expression in PT mice compared with control mice. Human SH-SY5Y cells stimulated with mouse colonic supernatant or exogenous serotonin exhibited longer nerve fibers, which CYY dose-dependently inhibited. Serotonin increased Ntrk1 and Ngfr expression via 5-HT7 but not 5-HT3 or 5-HT4, while Ntrk2 upregulation was dependent on all three 5-HT receptor subtypes. Conclusions. Stronger analgesic effects by peroral CYY were observed compared with reference standards in two IBS-like mouse models. The 5-HT7-dependent NTR upregulation and neurite elongation may be involved in intestinal hypernociceptio

Effective memory of the minority game

It is known that the memory is relevant in the symmetric phase of the minority game. In our previous work we have successfully explained the quasi-periodic behavior of the game in the symmetric phase with the help of the probability theory. Based on this explanation, we are able to determine how the memory affects the variance of the system in this paper. By using some particular types of fake history such as periodic type and random type, we determine how efficient the memory has been used in the standard game. Furthermore, the analysis on the effective memory strongly supports the result we proposed previously that there are three distinct phases in the minority game