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Acute effects of the number of players and scoring method on physiological, physical, and technical performance in small-sided soccer games
No full textThis study aims to examine the effect of differences in the number of players and scoring method on heart rate responses, time–motion characteristics, and technical/tactical performance during small-sided soccer games. Ten male amateur soccer players (26.4 ± 5.3 years old, 8.4 ± 3.2 years of practice, 179.3 ± 5.2 cm body height, 71.2 ± 7.1 kg body weight, 45.8 ± 2.6 ml.kg–1min–1VO2max) from the Portuguese regional league played nine different small-sided games (i.e., 3 formats × 3 scoring methods). The study used two-way MANOVA, two-away ANOVA, and one-way ANOVA, depending on the specific procedure for the analysis. Compared with other formats, 2v2 induced significantly greater values of technical/tactical indexes (p = 0.001), 3v3 induced significantly higher %HRreserve values (p = 0.001), and 4v4 led to significantly greater distance coverage and speed (p = 0.001). The study provided evidence for coaches to set different small-sided game conditions depending on the training purpose in terms of physiological, physical, and technical performance
Functional analysis of apoptosis-inducing factor in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans
No full textIntroduction, aims & objectives Apoptosis is a highly organized cellular process crucial for growth and development. Apoptosis has been demonstrated in unicellular yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but little is known in opportunistic human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Previous studies showed that typical apoptotic features could be induced in C. albicans. Mitochondria are bifunctional organelles: they are energy powerhouse; but also set a central stage that leads to cell demise. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been regarded as the onset of apoptosis, manifested by depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), massive elevation of ROS, and release of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and cytochrome c. Translocation of AIF from mitochondrial intermembrane space to nucleus causes chromatin condensation, DNA cleavage and cell death. No C. albicans AIF has been identified so far. We previously revealed that purpurin causes MMP depolarization without significant increase in intracellular ROS levels in Candida fungi, suggesting an existence of a mitochondrial-mediated cell death pathway. Searching the published C. albicans genome using S. cerevisiae AIF, we have identified three putative AIF sequences (orf19.1438, orf19.2175 and orf19.2671). The objectives of this project were: 1. To clone and express the three putative C. albicans AIF sequences; and 2. To determine the cellular localization and function role of AIF in energy production and cell death. Materials & methods The three putative C. albicans AIF sequences were cloned by PCR, expressed and purified from Escherichia coli BL21 as His-tag fusion proteins (CaAifp). Chromosomal green fluorescent protein-tagged AIF was constructed to detect cellular localization using confocal microscopy. The NADH oxidase activity of the purified CaAifp was determined by spectrophotometric method; and the cell death-related functions of the CaAifp were evaluated by examining sub-cellular translocation after apoptotic insults, ability to degrade DNA, and complementation to S. cerevisiae ∆aif1 mutant. Results The three putative C. albicans AIF sequences were cloned, expressed and purified to homogeneity from E. coli BL21 (i.e. CaAifp-orf19.1438, CaAifp-orf19.2175 and CaAifp-orf19.2671). CaAifp-orf19.2175 and CaAifp-orf19.2671 possessed NADH oxidase activity. CaAifp-orf19.2175 degraded DNA and functionally complemented S. cerevisiae ∆aif1 mutant. Conclusions The collective data of the present study suggest that orf19.2175 encodes a bona fide C. albicans AIF and the AIF-mediated cell death mechanism in C. albicans shares phylogenetic conservation to that in S. cerevisiae. Deciphering C. albicans AIF paves way for the elucidation of additional effector molecules in the mitochondrial-mediated cell death pathway and also casts light on the design of anti-Candidal strategy by promoting cell suicide
Ethanolic extract of rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (chuanxiong) enhances endothelium-dependent vascular reactivity in ovariectomized rats fed with high-fat diet
No full textThe rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (LC), also known as chuanxiong, is a very common herb widely used to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. It is also used as a major ingredient in soups for regular consumption to promote good health. To study the protective effect of LC ethanolic extract (LCEE, 600 mg per kg per day, p.o.) on the integrity of the vascular system, ovariectomized (OVX) rats were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) plus LCEE for 12 weeks. The animal model was used to mimic the dyslipidemic condition seen in postmenopausal women. LCEE was found significantly to reduce the body weight gain, improve serum lipid profiles (by lowering total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol but raising high density lipoprotein cholesterol) and protect vascular endothelium in the HFD-fed OVX rats. It is postulated that LCEE could exert its vascular protective effect through multiple targets by (1) improving serum lipid profiles to reduce the detrimental effects of cholesterol; (2) reducing the ROS level in the body via enhancing the hepatic anti-oxidative activity or antioxidant level to scavenge the reactive oxygen species generated in the postmenopausal hypercholesterolemic condition; (3) stimulating eNOS-derived nitric oxide production; (4) counteracting the up-regulation of inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1) expressions so as to reduce endothelium damage
Development of a novel multi-functional active membrane capping barrier for the remediation of nitrobenzene-contaminated sediment
No full textA novel bio-reactive capping barrier composed of polysulfone/granular activated carbon (PS/GAC) hybrid membranes immobilized with microorganism was developed for the remediation of nitrobenzene in sediments. The SEM observation demonstrated that all the membranes had a dense top layer and a porous sublayer, this structure can block the transfer of nitrobenzene from sediment to the water and enhance nitrobenzene degradation. Adsorption behaviors of nitrobenzene on membranes showed that the membrane impregnated with GAC had better performance than the pure PS membrane. The values of Kads increased from 4.64 (without GAC) to 6.19 (1:2 GAC). 20mg/L nitrobenzene can be completely degraded by Pseudomonas putida immobilized on membranes. The biodegradation rate of activated carbon-filled membrane system was little higher than that of pure PS membrane system. For remediation experiments, only about 21.7, 28.3 and 43.9% of nitrobenzene in the sediment was removed by the end of the experiments for PS/GAC membrane, sand-alone and sand amended with activated carbon capping systems, respectively. While for PS/GAC+microorganisms capping system, more than 70% of nitrobenzene loss was observed. This demonstrated that nitrobenzene can be effectively removed from contaminated sediments by microbial degradation in the bio-reactive capping system
Time buying and time saving: effects on service convenience and the shopping experience at the mall
No full textPurpose: The domain of service convenience remains relatively unexplored. However, as time pervades all aspects of consumption, the value placed on time is likely to influence the importance of convenience. Prior studies call for the investigation of convenience beyond the store context; and malls being a one-stop shopping destination, present an ideal environment for investigation.
Design/Methodology/Approach: A conceptual model delineating the relationships between service convenience, shopping trip value, customer satisfaction and several retail outcomes is developed. This model is empirically tested using survey data collected from 619 mall shoppers; and analyzed using structural equation modelling.
Findings: For shoppers who place high economic value on time, the effects of service convenience are greater on hedonic value. Conversely, those who place low economic value on time, effects of service convenience are greater on utilitarian value. Effects of shopping value on retail outcomes also vary according to value placed on time.
Research Limitations/Implication: Further investigation utilizing full convenience scale and more elaborate time style measures encouraged.
Practical Implications: Results signal the importance of enhancing the experiential aspects of the mall for high economic time value shoppers. Conversely, for low economic time value shoppers, findings suggest the importance of boosting the visual distinctiveness and ease of mall navigation.
Originality/Value: This study sheds light on research gaps by examining the link between service convenience and its effects on retail evaluation in the mall. It also considers how the economic value placed on time impact perceptions of convenience and the shopping experience
The mediating roles of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation between classroom learning environment and creativity among hospitality students in Taiwan
No full textCreativity is generally regarded both as an essential capability for hospitality graduates that will enable them to meet the challenges they will face, in the initial years and beyond, as career professionals and as a key element in enabling hospitality managers to operate businesses successfully. Many studies have already found that creativity can be promoted or fostered and is not a special talent found in only a few individuals. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of the classroom learning environment (CLE) and motivation to learn on hospitality students\u27 creativity. The findings of this study revealed two critical insights: (1) the important direct and indirect effects of CLE on creativity and (2) the mediating effect of intrinsic motivation (IM) on creativity. This study found that both CLE and IM to learn can independently and interactively affect hospitality students\u27 creativity
Effect of warm-up dance, towel dance and tambourine dance on improving the sense of stability in elderly persons
No full textSpecies diversity and performance assessment of trees in domestic gardens
No full textDomestic gardens, as an important component of urban green infrastructure, could make significant contributions to urban biodiversity. This study evaluated species composition, floristic diversity, amenity-ecological characteristics, habitat condition, and performance of trees in domestic gardens in urban Hong Kong. The 1501 individual trees belonged to 72 species, 61 genera and 36 families, with domination by a small cohort of popular species. Tree composition skewed heavily toward exotic species count (81.9%) and tree count (91.1%). The most prominent amenity-ecological attributes were fast growth and establishment and interesting tree form and foliage, accounting respectively for 38, 32 and 27 species. Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) indicated strong association between species distribution in domestic gardens and habitat-tree variables, such as tree density, tree aggregation, species aggregation, lots with trees and house lots. Redundancy Analysis (RDA) showed positive correlation (p \u3c 0.05) between tree and species counts and lot frontage and garden depth. Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) identified 16 species with relatively widespread presence in moderate or severe structural damage groups; and 22 species with very poor or poor overall condition. RDA further demonstrated positive correlation (p \u3c 0.05) between structural damage and overall condition, and tree position and confinement type. The contribution of domestic gardens in the urban greening program could be improved with appropriate incentives, and be integrated into a comprehensive landscape plan. The management implications with reference to preservation and enhancement of garden trees could be applied to south China and other cities