2,678 research outputs found
That's what she said: women students' experiences of 'lad culture' in higher education
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La influencia de las rutas de vuelos de bajo coste en la elecciĂłn del destino turĂstico
Influence exerted by low-cost flights availability between East Midlands and Reus airports on English touristsâ decision to visit a coastal mature destination as Costa Dorada (Northeastern Spain) has been analyzed by means of the Causal Chain Approach. The results show the uplift in the probability of the visit created by the presence of the low-cost flights is 28.4%. Probability is higher in the case of those staying in a hotel in Salou (33.9%).Mediante la aplicaciĂłn del mĂ©todo conocido como Causal Chain Approach, se ha analizado la influencia en la llegada de turistas ingleses a la Costa Dorada y al conjunto de la provincia de Tarragona ejercida por la existencia de una ruta de vuelos de bajo coste entre los aeropuertos de East Midlands y Reus. Los resultados muestran que el incremento en la probabilidad que los turistas hayan venido al destino escogido debido a la disponibilidad de dichos vuelos es del 28,4%. Esta probabilidad aumenta en el caso de aquellos que estuvieron alojados en un hotel de Salou (33,9%)
Detection of Mulatexin in Local Mulberry Plants (Morus spp.) from Bogor, West Java, Indonesia
The mlx56 gene family is found exclusively in the mulberry (Morus spp.) plant, and its role is to defend against insect herbivores, yet it had never been discovered from Indonesia, which has been cultivating mulberry silkworm's (Bombyx mori) feed in order to produce silks. This research focused on studying the expression of mlx56 gene family in local mulberry plants from Bogor, West Java, using different plant organs which were leaf, stem, and root. Each sample was collected from four species of mulberry; Morus alba var. kanva-2, M. alba var. multicaulis, M. bombycis var. lembang, and M. cathayana. Genomic RNA samples were collected and synthesized into cDNA, amplification was done using eight primers of the mlx56 gene family and the products were sequenced. Sequences were then analyzed by BLAST. Results showed diverse mlx56 gene family expression among species of mulberry and plant organs. The mlx56-2, mlx56-4, and mlx56-7, were mostly expressed in all species and organs. The gene mlx56-3, which was not discovered in the previous study, was expressed in M. cathayana leaf and root also in the roots of other species. It was identified as chitinase-like protein LA along with mlx56-5, while other genes were identified as mlx56 based on BLAST
The HCV Core Protein Acts as a Positive Regulator of Fas-Mediated Apoptosis in a Human Lymphoblastoid T Cell Line
AbstractHepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major human pathogen causing mild to severe liver disease worldwide and is remarkably efficient at establishing persistent infections. Previously, we have shown that the core protein has an immunomodulatory function including the suppression of T lymphocyte responses to viral infection. To investigate the underlying mechanism for the role of core protein in immune modulation, we examined the effect of core on the sensitivity of the human T cell line, Jurkat, to Fas-mediated apoptosis. The transient and stable expression of core protein in Jurkat cells increased the sensitivity of cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis when compared to control cells expressing vector DNA alone. In addition, we demonstrated that the core protein binds to the cytoplasmic domain of Fas which may enhance the downstream signaling event of Fas-mediated apoptosis. The expression of core protein did not alter the cell surface expression of Fas, indicating that the increased sensitivity of core-expressing cells to Fas ligand was not due to upregulation of Fas. Furthermore, we observed the augmentation of caspase-3 activity in core-expressing cells. These results suggest that the core protein may promote the apoptosis of immune cells during HCV infection via the Fas signaling pathway, thus facilitating HCV persistence
Distribution of energy intake across the day and weight loss : a systematic review and meta-analysis
ACKNOWLEDGMENT The authors would like to thank Ms Kanchana Ekanayake (Health Sciences Library, The University of Sydney) for her invaluable assistance with the literature searches. Open access publishing facilitated by The University of Sydney, as part of the Wiley - The University of Sydney agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians.Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Early dietary exposures epigenetically program mammary cancer susceptibility through Igf1-mediated expansion of the mammary stem cell compartment
This article belongs to the Collection Insulin-Like Growth Factors in Development, Cancers and Aging.Diet is a critical environmental factor affecting breast cancer risk, and recent evidence shows that dietary exposures during early development can affect lifetime mammary cancer susceptibility. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, we used our established crossover feeding mouse model, where exposure to a high-fat and high-sugar (HFHS) diet during defined developmental windows determines mammary tumor incidence and latency in carcinogen-treated mice. Mammary tumor incidence is significantly increased in mice receiving a HFHS post-weaning diet (high-tumor mice, HT) compared to those receiving a HFHS diet during gestation (low-tumor mice, LT). The current study revealed that the mammary stem cell (MaSC) population was significantly increased in mammary glands from HT compared to LT mice. Igf1 expression was increased in mammary stromal cells from HT mice, where it promoted MaSC self-renewal. The increased Igf1 expression was induced by DNA hypomethylation of the Igf1 Pr1 promoter, mediated by a decrease in Dnmt3b levels. Mammary tissues from HT mice also had reduced levels of Igfbp5, leading to increased bioavailability of tissue Igf1. This study provides novel insights into how early dietary exposures program mammary cancer risk, demonstrating that effective dietary intervention can reduce mammary cancer incidenceThe research was supported by institutional funding from Texas A&M University and the Discovery Foundatio
Understanding the Impact of Different Doses of Reducose Âź Mulberry Leaf Extract on Blood Glucose and Insulin Responses after Eating a Complex Meal: Results from a Double-Blind, Randomised, Crossover Trial
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are becoming an increasingly important health concern due to a rapidly ageing global population. The fastest growing NCD, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is responsible for over 2 million deaths annually. Lifestyle changes, including dietary changes to low glycemic response (GR) foods, have been shown to reduce the risk of developing T2DM. The aim of this study was to investigate whether three different doses of ReducoseÂź, a mulberry leaf extract, could lower the GR and insulinemic responses (IR) to a full meal challenge in healthy individuals. A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, repeat-measure, crossover design trial was conducted by the Oxford Brookes Centre for Nutrition and Health; 37 healthy individuals completed the study. Participants consumed capsules containing either 200 mg, 225 mg, 250 mg ReducoseÂź or placebo before a test meal consisting of 150 g white bread and egg mayo filler. Capillary blood samples were collected at 15-min intervals in the first hour and at 30-min intervals over the second and third hours to determine glucose and plasma insulin levels. The consumption of all three doses of ReducoseÂź resulted in significantly lower blood glucose and plasma insulin levels compared to placebo. All three doses of ReducoseÂź (200 mg, 225 mg, 250 mg) significantly lowered glucose iAUC 120 by 30% (p = 0.003), 33% (p = 0.001) and 32% (p = 0.002), respectively, compared with placebo. All three doses of ReducoseÂź (200 mg, 225 mg, 250 mg) significantly lowered the plasma insulin iAUC 120 by 31% (p = 0.024), 34% (p = 0.004) and 38% (p < 0.001), respectively. The study demonstrates that the recommended dose (250 mg) and two lower doses (200 mg, 225 mg) of ReducoseÂź can be used to help lower the GR and IR of a full meal containing carbohydrates, fats and proteins
Promoting chlamydia screening with posters and leaflets in general practice - a qualitative study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>General practice staff are reluctant to discuss sexual health opportunistically in all consultations. Health promotion materials may help alleviate this barrier. Chlamydia screening promotion posters and leaflets, produced by the English National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP), have been available to general practices, through local chlamydia screening offices, since its launch. In this study we explored the attitudes of general practice staff to these screening promotional materials, how they used them, and explored other promotional strategies to encourage chlamydia screening.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty-five general practices with a range of screening rates, were purposively selected from six NCSP areas in England. In focus groups doctors, nurses, administrative staff and receptionists were encouraged to discuss candidly their experiences about their use and opinions of posters, leaflets and advertising to promote chlamydia screening. Researchers observed whether posters and leaflets were on display in reception and/or waiting areas. Data were collected and analysed concurrently using a stepwise framework analytical approach.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Although two-thirds of screening practices reported that they displayed posters and leaflets, they were not prominently displayed in most practices. Only a minority of practices reported actively using screening promotional materials on an ongoing basis. Most staff in all practices were not following up the advertising in posters and leaflets by routinely offering opportunistic screening to their target population. Some staff in many practices thought posters and leaflets would cause offence or embarrassment to their patients. Distribution of chlamydia leaflets by receptionists was thought to be inappropriate by some practices, as they thought patients would be offended when being offered a leaflet in a public area. Practice staff suggested the development of pocket-sized leaflets.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The NCSP should consider developing a range of more discrete but eye catching posters and small leaflets specifically to promote chlamydia screening in different scenarios within general practice; coordinators should audit their use. Practice staff need to discuss, with their screening co-ordinator, how different practice staff can promote chlamydia screening most effectively using the NCSP promotional materials, and change them regularly so that they do not loose their impact. Education to change all practice staff's attitudes towards sexual health is needed to reduce their worries about displaying the chlamydia materials, and how they may follow up the advertising up with a verbal offer of screening opportunistically to 15-24 year olds whenever they visit the practice.</p
Correlates of HIV Testing Among Men Who have Sex with Men in Three Urban Areas of Mozambique: Missed Opportunities for Prevention
First molecular phylogenetic insights into the evolution of Eriocaulon (Eriocaulaceae, Poales)
Eriocaulon is a genus of c. 470 aquatic and wetland species of the monocot plant family Eriocaulaceae. It is widely distributed in Africa, Asia and America, with centres of species richness in the tropics. Most species of Eriocaulon grow in wetlands although some inhabit shallow rivers and streams with an apparent adaptive morphology of elongated submerged stems. In a previous molecular phylogenetic hypothesis, Eriocaulon was recovered as sister of the African endemic genus Mesanthemum. Several regional infrageneric classifications have been proposed for Eriocaulon. This study aims to critically assess the existing infrageneric classifications through phylogenetic reconstruction of infrageneric relationships, based on DNA sequence data of four chloroplast markers and one nuclear marker. There is little congruence between our molecular results and previous morphology-based infrageneric classifications. However, some similarities can be found, including Fysonâs sect. Leucantherae and Zhangâs sect. Apoda. Further phylogenetic studies, particularly focusing on less well sampled regions such as the Neotropics, will help provide a more global overview of the relationships in Eriocaulon and may enable suggesting the first global infrageneric classification
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