Search results for "METHODOLOGY"
showing 10 items of 852 documents
A novel D2O tracer method to quantify RNA turnover as a biomarker of de novo ribosomal biogenesis, in vitro, in animal models, and in human skeletal …
2017
Current methods to quantify in vivo RNA dynamics are limited. Here, we developed a novel stable isotope (D2O) methodology to quantify RNA synthesis (i.e., ribosomal biogenesis) in cells, animal models, and humans. First, proliferating C2C12 cells were incubated in D2O-enriched media and myotubes ±50 ng/ml IGF-I. Second, rat quadriceps (untrained, n = 9; 7-wk interval-“like” training, n = 13) were collected after ~3-wk D2O (70 atom %) administration, with body-water enrichment monitored via blood sampling. Finally, 10 (23 ± 1 yr) men consumed 150-ml D2O followed by 50 ml/wk and undertook 6-wk resistance exercise (6 × 8 repetitions, 75% 1-repetition maximum 3/wk) with body-water enrichment mo…
L1-Penalized Censored Gaussian Graphical Model
2018
Graphical lasso is one of the most used estimators for inferring genetic networks. Despite its diffusion, there are several fields in applied research where the limits of detection of modern measurement technologies make the use of this estimator theoretically unfounded, even when the assumption of a multivariate Gaussian distribution is satisfied. Typical examples are data generated by polymerase chain reactions and flow cytometer. The combination of censoring and high-dimensionality make inference of the underlying genetic networks from these data very challenging. In this article, we propose an $\ell_1$-penalized Gaussian graphical model for censored data and derive two EM-like algorithm…
Optimization of electrospraying conditions for the microencapsulation of probiotics and evaluation of their resistance during storage and in-vitro di…
2016
Electrospraying has recently emerged as a novel microencapsulation technique with potential for the protection of probiotics. However, research efforts are still needed to minimize the viability loss observed during the processing of sensitive strains, and to maximize productivity. The aim of the present work was the optimization of the electrospraying conditions for the microencapsulation of a model probiotic microorganism, Lactobacillus plantarum, within a whey protein concentrate matrix. In a pre-optimization step, the convenience of encapsulating fresh culture instead of freeze-dried bacteria was established. Additionally, a surface response methodology was used to study the effect of t…
Optimization of Bacillus cereus Fermentation Process for Selenium Enrichment as Organic Selenium Source
2020
Selenium is an essential trace element and micronutrient for human health. Application of organic selenium in plants and microorganisms as trace element supplement is attracting more and more attention. In this study, Bacillus cereus, an important probiotic, was used for selenium enrichment with sodium selenite as selenium source. The growth curve of B. cereus was investigated, and 150 μg/ml was selected as the concentration of selenium for B. cereus fermentation. With application of response surface methodology, the optimal fermentation conditions were obtained as follows: inoculation quantity of 7%, culture temperature of 33°C, and shaking speed of 170 rpm, leading to the maximal selenium…
Does Linguistic Analysis Confirm the Validity of Facilitated Communication?
2016
Facilitated communication (FC) has been interpreted as an ideomotor phenomenon, in which one person physically supports another person’s hand and unconsciously affects the content of the writing. Despite the strong experimental evidence against the authenticity of FC output, several studies claim to support its validity based on idiosyncrasies found in the texts produced. A review of these studies showed that, because of the logical circularity of the reasoning proposed in the studies, no decisive evidence that validated FC was presented. In addition, the idiosyncrasies found were better explained as by-products of the unusual writing process itself. Finally, the studies did not fulfill th…
Methodological Approach for Identifying Mechanisms in ICT4D: A Critical Realism Perspective
2017
Part 4: Social Mechanisms of ICT-Enabled Development; International audience; The ontological questions ‘What is ICT?’ and ‘What is development?’ are described and documented in literature. Similarly, methodological approaches for understanding how ICT leads to development or for measuring the impact of ICT are described. However, explaining ‘why’ ICT works or not in the contexts of developing countries needs further investigation. We propose a critical realism based methodological approach for answering the above mentioned ‘why’-question. The core of a critical realism based approach is to identify the underlying mechanism(s) that may explain a phenomenon of why ICT leads to development. W…
Recognising mitigation: Three tests for its identification
2020
Abstract Linguistic mitigation is a pragmatic phenomenon that has been profusely treated in the literature, and yet there are few studies dedicated exclusively to offering methodological criteria for its recognition and analysis (but see Albelda, 2010 and Albelda et al., 2014). Consequently, the researcher must infer the methods for its recognition through problems arising during the analysis or through the examples and reflections offered by the authors who have addressed the issue. The purpose of this article is twofold. Firstly, to present some of the main keys for the recognition of mitigation presented by the bibliography, such as the catalogues of mitigation devices, the context, the …
Web based survey to measuring social interactions, values, attitudes and travel behavior
2018
Abstract This paper presents the data collection methodology developed for Minerva research project. The aim of Minerva is to study the influence of values, attitudes and social interactions on travel behavior. For this purpose, a web based survey has been developed, which consists of several questionnaires to collect respondents’ values and attitudes; a two-day activity-travel diary; information about social interactions; and socio-demographic characteristics. To identify the social contacts, it is being used a contact diary methodology together with the activity-travel diary.
Practices of Writing in Ethnographic Work
2020
Although the practice of writing is key to the production of ethnographic knowledge, the topic remains understudied. Using material from our own ethnographic research in the fields of air travel and cultural heritage as data, we develop a reflexive account of ethnographic writing. We examine in detail the practices of jotting down observations, writing field notes, analytic annotating, ordering and rearranging, and drafting and revising papers. The article takes a praxeological stance, conceptualizing writing as a practice that is simultaneously cognitive, embodied, and material. Our analysis finds that writing influences and shapes all stages of ethnographic work, from orienting perception…
Another "French paradox": explaining why interest rates to microenterprises dit not increase with the change in French usury legislation
2015
Conventional wisdom indicates that the growth of credit may not materialize if credit rates remain capped by usury laws, as had long been the case in France. France therefore abolished usury ceilings on loans to microenterprise in an effort to increase financing for microentrepreneurs. This should have led to an increase in interest rates and increase in microcredit. However, we do not find any increase in interest rates and this is therefore a paradox. The paper provides a brief literature review and the salient features of the legislative changes in France. It follows this up with a presentation of interest rate movements. The discussion of possible explanations of the paradox includes cl…