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To assess incentive changes on resident publication behavior. In 2020, we demonstrated the positive effect of an unlimited $1000 publishing incentive for Urology residents. Following this publication, institutional changes led to a limit of a single $1000 publishing incentive per resident per year. The PubMed database was assessed to quantify average resident primary authorship and average overall publications. Average primary authorships and total PubMed listings were then compared by year before any incentive (June 2008-June 2016), during unlimited incentive (July 2016-October 2020), and after the limited financial incentive (November 2020-June 2023). Scholarly activity from 30 out of 30 possible residents was evaluated. The average PubMed research participation for the program per year increased significantly from 2.44 preincentive to 8.0 when the incentive was unlimited but decreased to 4.0 when the incentive was limited (P =.026). Similarly, the average PubMed primary resident authorships per year increased from 1.0 preincentive to 6.25 during the unlimited incentive period but decreased to 2.0 when the incentive was limited (P <.001). Our data showed an unlimited monetary incentive resulted in a significant increase in average primary resident authorship and average resident participation for publications to PubMed. The limited monetary incentive model resulted in a significant decrease on resident publication and participation in research compared to unlimited incentives. However, limited monetary incentives have a positive, though restricted, effect on Urology resident publication and participation in research compared to no incentive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic resonance imaging is an important tool for characterizing volumetric changes of the piglet brain during development. Typically, an early step of an imaging analysis pipeline is brain extraction, or skull stripping. Brain extractions are usually performed manually; however, this approach is time-intensive and can lead to variation between brain extractions when multiple raters are used. Automated brain extractions are important for reducing the time required for analyses and improving the uniformity of the extractions. Here we demonstrate the use of Mask R-CNN, a Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (R-CNN), for automated brain extractions of piglet brains. We validate our approach using Nested Cross-Validation on six sets of training/validation data drawn from 32 pigs. Visual inspection of the extractions shows acceptable accuracy, Dice coefficients are in the range of 0.95–0.97, and Hausdorff Distance values in the range of 4.1–8.3 voxels. These results demonstrate that R-CNNs provide a viable tool for skull stripping of piglet brains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Simultaneously recorded electroencephalography and functional magnetic resonance imaging (EEG-fMRI) is highly informative yet technically challenging. Until recently, there has been little information about EEG data quality and safety when used with newer multi-band (MB) fMRI sequences. Here, we measure the relative heating of a MB protocol compared with a standard single-band (SB) protocol considered to be safe. We also evaluated EEG quality recorded concurrently with the MB protocol on humans. Materials and methods: We compared radiofrequency (RF)-related heating at multiple electrodes and magnetic field magnitude, B1+RMS, of a MB fMRI sequence with whole-brain coverage (TR = 440 ms, MB factor = 4) against a previously recommended, safe SB sequence using a phantom outfitted with a 64-channel EEG cap. Next, 9 human subjects underwent eyes-closed resting state EEG-fMRI using the MB sequence. Additionally, in three of the subjects resting state EEG was recorded also during the SB sequence and in an fMRI-free condition to directly compare EEG data quality across scanning conditions. EEG data quality was assessed by the ability to remove gradient and cardioballistic artifacts along with a clean spectrogram. Results: The heating induced by the MB sequence was lower than that of the SB sequence by a factor of 0.73 ± 0.38. This is consistent with an expected heating ratio of 0.64, calculated from the square of the ratio of B1+RMS values of the sequences. In the resting state EEG data, gradient and cardioballistic artifacts were successfully removed using traditional template subtraction. All subjects showed an individual alpha peak in the spectrogram with a posterior topography characteristic of eyes-closed EEG. The success of artifact rejection for the MB sequence was comparable to that in traditional SB sequences. Conclusions: Our study shows that B1+RMS is a useful indication of the relative heating of fMRI protocols. This observation indicates that simultaneous EEG-fMRI recordings using this MB sequence can be safe in terms of RF-related heating, and that EEG data recorded using this sequence is of acceptable quality after traditional artifact removal techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate whether a financial incentive changed research patterns among residents over a 12-year period.Methods: At our institution, beginning July 2016, any resident work that led to a PubMed citation was awarded $1,000. A review of the PubMed database and the regional meeting of the South Central Section of AUA (SCS/AUA) presentation itineraries were used to quantify and qualify the participation in research by these residents before and after introduction of the financial incentive.Results: Scholarly activity from thirty out of thirty possible residents was evaluated. The monetary incentive resulted in increased production post-incentive (6.33) vs pre-incentive (2.44) in average total authorship participation published to PubMed per year (P = .0125). The average number of PubMed primary authorships per resident per year increased from 0 in July 2007-June 2008 to 0.7 in July 2018-June 2019, displaying upward trajectory. Average primary authorship of research produced per year presented at SCS/AUA and published to PubMed increased postincentive (9.00) vs pre-incentive (4.89) (P = .0479). More review articles and less basic science research were published after the incentive.Conclusion: Offering financial incentives to urology residents increased publications and meaningful participation in research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy provides measures of brain chemistry that are sensitive to cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition. The concentration of N-acetyl aspartic acid (NAA) is of interest because it is a marker of neuronal integrity. The ratio of NAA to creatine, a standard reference metabolite, has been shown to correlate with measures of both cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition. However, previous studies have explored these effects in isolation, making it impossible to know which of these highly correlated measures drive the correlations with NAA/Cr. As a result, the mechanisms underlying their association remain to be established. We therefore conducted a comprehensive study to investigate the relative contributions of cardiorespiratory fitness and percent body fat in predicting NAA/Cr. We demonstrate that NAA/Cr in white matter is correlated with percent body fat, and that this relationship largely subsumes the correlation of NAA/Cr with cardiorespiratory fitness. These results underscore the association of body composition with axonal integrity and suggests that this relationship drives the association of NAA/Cr with physical fitness in young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental and theoretical results have established that the range of the attraction plays a critical role in determining whether a particle system exhibits a stable liquid phase. Changes to the range of the repulsions can similarly affect the existence of a stable liquid phase; however, these effects have not been clearly elucidated. We demonstrate that an increase in the range of repulsions can either enhance or decrease the stability of the liquid phase, depending on the form of the interaction potential. For either case, the critical variable that controls the stability of the liquid phase is the ratio of the representative energies of the liquid and solid phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the effects of the level of contraction during isometric shoulder abduction at different abduction angles on muscle thickness and stiffness of the shoulder girdle in asymptomatic individuals. Design: Measurement properties study. Setting: Biomechanics and motion analysis lab. Participants: Twenty individuals volunteered to participate in this study. Main Outcome Measure: The subjects were tested for morphological and mechanical properties, expressed by thickness and stiffness of the supraspinatus tendon and muscle, and upper trapezius muscle. Moreover, acromiohumeral distance was also evaluated using B-mode ultrasound and shear-wave elastography. Intervention: The thickness and stiffness of the supraspinatus and upper trapezius muscle were assessed at 3 angles of abduction (0°, 60°, and 90°) and 3 levels of contraction (0%, 10%, and 20% of the maximal voluntary isometric contraction) using ultrasonography with shear-wave imaging. Moreover, the acromiohumeral distance was measured to establish the occupation ratio during passive movement. Results: The supraspinatus and upper trapezius muscle thickness and stiffness were significantly greater at 60° shoulder abduction compared with 0°, and 90° compared with 60°, as well as significantly greater at 20% maximal voluntary isometric contraction compared with 0% and 10% maximal voluntary isometric contraction. Thickness and stiffness were significantly greater in the supraspinatus compared with the upper trapezius muscle at all 3 angles of shoulder abduction for all 3 level of contractions. The acromiohumeral distance decreased significantly from 0° to 60° and from 60° to 90°. Conclusion: Morphological and mechanical properties of the supraspinatus and upper trapezius muscles depended on the relative level of muscle contraction and the angle of shoulder abduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple methods have been proposed for using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Imaging (MRSI) to measure representative metabolite concentrations of anatomically-defined brain regions. Generally these methods require spectral analysis, quantitation of the signal, and reconciliation with anatomical brain regions. However, to simplify processing pipelines, it is practical to only include those corrections that significantly improve data quality. Of particular importance for cross-sectional studies is knowledge about how much each correction lowers the inter-subject variance of the measurement, thereby increasing statistical power. Here we use a data set of 72 subjects to calculate the reduction in inter-subject variance produced by several corrections that are commonly used to process MRSI data. Our results demonstrate that significant reductions of variance can be achieved by performing water scaling, accounting for tissue type, and integrating MRSI data over anatomical regions rather than simply assigning MRSI voxels with anatomical region labels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive neuroscience has long sought to understand the biological foundations of human intelligence. Decades of research have revealed that general intelligence is correlated with two brain-based biomarkers: the concentration of the brain biochemical N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and total brain volume measured using structural MR imaging (MRI). However, the relative contribution of these biomarkers in predicting performance on core facets of human intelligence remains to be well characterized. In the present study, we sought to elucidate the role of NAA and brain volume in predicting fluid intelligence (Gf). Three canonical tests of Gf (BOMAT, Number Series, and Letter Sets) and three working memory tasks (Reading, Rotation, and Symmetry span tasks) were administered to a large sample of healthy adults ( n = 211). We conducted exploratory factor analysis to investigate the factor structure underlying Gf independent from working memory and observed two Gf components (verbal/spatial and quantitative reasoning) and one working memory component. Our findings revealed a dissociation between two brain biomarkers of Gf (controlling for age and sex): NAA concentration correlated with verbal/spatial reasoning, whereas brain volume correlated with quantitative reasoning and working memory. A follow-up analysis revealed that this pattern of findings is observed for males and females when analyzed separately. Our results provide novel evidence that distinct brain biomarkers are associated with specific facets of human intelligence, demonstrating that NAA and brain volume are independent predictors of verbal/spatial and quantitative facets of Gf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Portfolio theory suggests that geographical diversification of production units could potentially help manage the risks associated with farming, yet little research has been done to evaluate the effectiveness of a geographical diversification strategy in agriculture. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach – The paper utilizes several tools from modern finance theory, including Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR) and copulas, to construct a model for the evaluation of a diversification strategy. The proposed model – the copula-based mean-CVaR model – is then applied to the producer’s acreage allocation problem to examine the potential benefits of risk reduction from a geographical diversification strategy in US wheat farming. Along with the copula-based model, the multivariate-normal mean-CVaR model is also estimated as a benchmark. Findings – The mean-CVaR optimization results suggest that geographical diversification is a viable risk management strategy from a farm’s profit margin perspective. In addition, the copula-based model appears more appropriate than the traditional multivariate-normal model for conservative agricultural producers who are concerned with the extreme losses of farm profitability in that the later model tends to underestimate the minimum level of risk faced by the producers for a given level of profitability. Originality/value – The effectiveness of geographical diversification in US wheat farming is evaluated. As a methodological contribution, the copula approach is used to model the joint distribution of profit margins and CVaR is employed as a measure of downside risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dense suspensions can exhibit a dramatic stress-induced transition from liquid-like to solid-like behavior. In many materials, the solid-like flow state is characterized by large flow fluctuations and instabilities. Although various experiments have been performed to characterize flow fluctuations, the mechanisms that govern the flow instabilities remain poorly understood. To elucidate these mechanisms, we characterize a system that rapidly fluctuates between two flow states. One of the flow states is dominated by apparent wall slip, and the other is dominated by dilatancy. The dilatant regime occurs at elevated stresses and is associated with reduced wall slip, whereas the wall slip-dominated regime occurs at lower stresses. At stresses that are intermediate between these two regimes, the material fluctuates between the two regimes in a semi-regular fashion. Our analysis of the fluctuations at millisecond timescales shows that fluctuations occur because neither regime is capable of supporting a constant stress in a stable manner. We rationalize our results in terms of the differences in the shear-induced particle pressure between regions that are particle-rich and regions of slip that are particle-depleted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purposes of this paper are to determine the financial, structural, and tax policy factors that influence the probability of buying machinery and the intensity of the machinery purchases on North Dakota farming operations. Design/methodology/approach – A double hurdle model was used to estimate the two decisions: purchasing machinery and the intensity of the machinery purchase. Data were collected from the North Dakota Farm and Ranch Management Business Association Annual Summaries for 1993-2011. Findings – Results demonstrated that the tax incentive provided by Section 179 deduction had the largest positive effect on machinery purchases when compared to operating profit margin, leverage ratio, producer type, and experience of the principal operator of the farm. Originality/value – Section 179 deductions have changed substantially over the 19-year period studied and have not been analyzed in previous machinery investment work. This analysis puts a numerical value on the effect of Section 179 deductions over time and demonstrates the large effect tax incentives have on machinery purchase decisions and levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – What copulas are, their estimation, and use is illustrated using a geographical diversification example. To accomplish this, dependencies between county-level yields are calculated for non-irrigated wheat, upland cotton, and sorghum using Pearson linear correlation and Kendall's tau. The use of Kendall's tau allows the implementation of copulas to estimate the dependency between county-level yields. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Four parametric copulas, Gaussian, Frank, Clayton, and Gumbel, are used to estimate Kendall's tau. These four estimates of Kendall's tau are compared to Pearson's linear correlation, a more typical measure of dependence. Using this information, functions are estimated to determine the relationships between dependencies and changes in geographic and climate data. Findings – The effect on county-level crop yields based on changes of geographical and climate variables differed among the different dependency measures among the three different crops. Implementing alternative dependency measures changed the statistical significance and the signs of the coefficients in the sorghum and cotton dependence functions. Copula-based elasticities are consistently less than the linear correlation elasticities for wheat and cotton. For sorghum, however, the copula-based elasticities are generally larger. The results indicate that one should not take the issue of measuring dependence as a trivial matter. Originality/value – This research not only extends the current literature on geographical diversification by taking a more detailed examination of factors impacting yield dependence, but also extends the copula literature by comparing estimation results using linear correlation and copula-based rank correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial ATP production is vital for meeting cellular energy demand at rest and during periods of high ATP turnover. We hypothesized that high-intensity interval training (HIT) would increase ATP flux in resting muscle (VPi→ATP) in response to a single bout of exercise, whereas changes in the capacity for oxidative ATP production (Vmax) would require repeated bouts. Eight untrained men (27 ± 4 yr; peak oxygen uptake = 36 ± 4 ml·kg-1·min-1) performed six sessions of HIT (4-6 x 30-s bouts of all-out cycling with 4-min recovery). After standardized meals and a 10-h fast, VPi→ATP and Vmax of the vastus lateralis muscle were measured using phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 4 Tesla. Measurements were obtained at baseline, 15 h after the first training session, and 15 h after completion of the sixth session. VPi→ATP was determined from the unidirectional flux between Pi and ATP, using the saturation transfer technique. The rate of phosphocreatine recovery (kPCr) following a maximal contraction was used to calculate Vmax. While kPCr and Vmax were unchanged after a single session of HIT, completion of six training sessions resulted in a =14% increase in muscle oxidative capacity (P = 0.004). In contrast, neither a single nor six training sessions altered VPi→ATP (P = 0.74). This novel analysis of resting and maximal high-energy phosphate kinetics in vivo in response to HIT provides evidence that distinct aspects of human skeletal muscle metabolism respond differently to this type of training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organizational structure of cooperatives generates a complex link between member equity and overall corporate capital structure. This link is further complicated by macroeconomic and firm-based risks. This paper presents a model of optimal debt ratio, subject to cooperative financial characteristics and capital requirements. We test the proposition that macroeconomic and idiosyncratic uncertainty tend to decrease the optimal debt to total asset ratio. We find that macroeconomic and idiosyncratic risk negatively affect optimal borrowing in cooperatives with sales of $25 million or less. Conversely, no clear relationship exists between these types of risk and cooperatives with greater sales. These findings suggest an important relationship between firm operations and member equity as small cooperatives contemplate entry into world markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is discrepancy in the literature regarding the degree to which old age affects muscle bioenergetics. These discrepancies are likely influenced by several factors, including variations in physical activity (PA) and differences in the muscle group investigated. To test the hypothesis that age may affect muscles differently, we quantified oxidative capacity of tibialis anterior (TA) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles in healthy, relatively sedentary younger (8 YW, 8 YM; 21-35 years) and older (8 OW, 8 OM; 65-80 years) adults. To investigate the effect of physical activity on muscle oxidative capacity in older adults, we compared older sedentary women to older women with mild-to-moderate mobility impairment and lower physical activity (OIW, n = 7), and older sedentary men with older active male runners (OAM, n = 6). Oxidative capacity was measured in vivo as the rate constant, kPCr, of postcontraction phosphocreatine recovery, obtained by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy following maximal isometric contractions. While kPCr was higher in TA of older than activity-matched younger adults (28%; p = 0.03), older adults had lower kPCr in VL (23%; p = 0.04). In OIW compared with OW, kPCr was lower in VL (∼45%; p = 0.01), but not different in TA. In contrast, OAM had higher kPCr than OM ( p = 0.03) in both TA (41%) and VL (54%). In older adults, moderate-to-vigorous PA was positively associated with kPCr in VL ( r = 0.65, p < 0.001) and TA ( r = 0.41, p = 0.03). Collectively, these results indicate that age-related changes in oxidative capacity vary markedly between locomotory muscles, and that altered PA behavior may play a role in these changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The glass transition temperature of a broad class of molecules is shown to depend on molecular size. This dependency results from the size dependence of the pair potential. A generalized equation of state is used to estimate how the volume fraction at the glass transition depends on the size of the molecule, for rigid molecule glass-formers. The model shows that at a given pressure and temperature there is a size-induced glass transition: For molecules larger than a critical size, the volume fraction required to support the effective pressure due to particle attractions is above that which characterizes the glassy state. This observation establishes the boundary between nanoparticles, which exist in liquid form only as dispersions in low molecular weight solvents and large molecules which form liquids that have viscosities below those characterized by the glassy state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two-dimensional (2D) depth-averaged river model Finite-Element Surface-Water Modeling System (FESWMS) was used to predict flow distribution at the bend of a compound channel. The site studied was the Highway 13 bridge over the Big Sioux River in Flandreau, South Dakota. The Flandreau site has complex channel and floodplain geometry that produces unique flow conditions at the bridge crossing. The 2D model was calibrated using flow measurements obtained during two floods in 1993. The calibrated model was used to examine the hydraulic and geomorphic factors that affect the main channel and floodplain flows and the flow interactions between the two portions. A one-dimensional (1D) flow model of the bridge site was also created in Hydrologic Engineering Centers River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) for comparison. Soil samples were collected from the bridge site and tested in an erosion function apparatus (EFA) to determine the critical shear stress and erosion rate constant. The results of EFA testing and 2D flow modeling were used as inputs to the Scour Rate in Cohesive Soils (SRICOS) method to predict local scour at the northern and southernmost piers. The sensitivity of predicted scour depth to the hydraulic and soil parameters was examined. The predicted scour depth was very sensitive to the approach-flow velocity and critical shear stress. Overall, this study has provided a better understanding of 2D flow effects in compound channels and an overall assessment of the SRICOS method for prediction of bridge pier scour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colloidal systems exhibit a dramatic slowdown in particle dynamics at high concentrations. The study of the concentration-induced glass transition in these systems has been greatly simplified by treating the colloidal phase as an effective single component in a viscous continuum. We seek to apply an effective single-component approach to molecular systems by investigating a material that also exhibits a dramatic slowdown as the relative concentration of two components change. Our system is a binary mixture of ethanol and citric acid, in which the size ratio of the particles is 0.7. We measure the temperature and concentration dependence of the self-diffusivity of both components using pulse-gradient NMR. We model our data with an elementary free volume model and show that the self-diffusivity of both components depends on the properties of an effective single component. The particle size of the effective single component is the number-averaged size of the two components. Our results demonstrate that mixtures can be used to study the effect of particle size on glassy dynamics and are therefore useful for understanding systems that are intermediate between molecular and colloidal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many liquid metals exposed to air develop an oxide film on their outer surface. This film is sufficiently solid-like to provide mechanical stability to small liquid metal droplets, yet weak enough to allow the droplets to be malleable. These properties are useful in both micro-electronics and microfluidics; however, little is known about how to characterize them. Here we probe the elastic, yielding, and relaxation properties of oxide-coated gallium and eutectic gallium indium using a rheometer equipped with a parallel-plate geometry. By using parallel plates of different size, we show that surface stresses dominate bulk stresses. These experiments also demonstrate that the apparent elastic properties of the oxide film are highly sensitive to its strain history. Moreover, the apparent elasticity is sensitive to the stresses stored in the oxide skin. We probe these stresses and their time-dependence, with both torque and normal force measurements. We also characterize the time-dependence of the elasticity by observing free vibrations of the rheometer. We rationalize the strain history and time-dependence in terms of oxidation and show that despite this dependence, reproducible elasticity measurements can be obtained due to the ability of shear to produce a state that is independent of the strain history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many common materials display significant nonlinear rheological properties. Characterizing these properties can be done with a variety of methods. One such method uses inertio-elastic oscillations, which occur naturally in rotational rheometry as a consequence of a material’s elasticity and the inertia of the rheometer. These oscillations have primarily been used to characterize linear viscoelastic properties. In addition to allowing for the imposition of stress-biased oscillations on short time scales, we demonstrate that extending this technique to nonlinear deformations provides accurate measurements of nonlinear material properties. Our experiments are performed on fibrin networks, which are well characterized and have dramatic nonlinear properties that are biologically significant. We compare the tangent moduli measurements of inertio-elastic oscillations with three standard methods of nonlinear rheology: forced oscillations about a prestress, a geometric interpretation of large amplitude oscillatory shears, and an extension of the linear viscoelastic moduli to the nonlinear regime. Inertio-elastic oscillations provide an accurate characterization of fibrin’s nonlinear properties, and further, our measurements suggest that inertio-elastic oscillations provide the most straightforward method of distinguishing between nonlinear elasticity and dissipation at any given stress. In fact, we find that inertio-elastic oscillations provide the most accurate measurement of the subdominant loss component of our networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We recently reported lower glycolytic flux (ATPGLY) and increased reliance on oxidative ATP synthesis (ATPOX) in contracting muscle of older compared to young humans. To further investigate this age-related difference in the pathways of ATP synthesis, we used magnetic resonance spectroscopy to determine the rates of ATPOX, ATPGLY and net phosphocreatine hydrolysis in vivo during maximal muscle contractions under free-flow (FF) and ischaemic (ISC) conditions in the ankle dorsiflexors of 20 young (27 ± 3 years; 10 male, 10 female) and 18 older (70 ± 5 years; 10 male, 8 female) adults. We hypothesized that ATPGLY would be higher in young compared to old during FF contractions, but that old would be unable to increase ATPGLY during ISC to match that of the young, which would suggest impaired glycolytic ATP synthesis with old age. Peak glycolytic flux during FF was lower in older (0.8 ± 0.1 mm ATP s−1) compared to young (1.4 ± 0.1 mm ATP s−1, P < 0.001) subjects. During ISC, peak ATPGLY increased in old to a level similar to that of young (1.4 ± 0.2 mm ATP s−1, 1.3 ± 0.2 mm ATP s−1, respectively; P= 0.86), suggesting that glycolytic function remains intact in aged muscle in vivo. Notably, older adults fatigued less than young during both FF and ISC ( P≤ 0.004). These results provide novel evidence of unimpaired in vivo glycolytic function in the skeletal muscle of older adults during maximal isometric dorsiflexion, and suggest a potential role for differences in metabolic economy and as a result, metabolite accumulation, in the fatigue resistance of the old. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a promising and flexible technique for fabricating uniform nonspherical particles with anisotropic phase and surface properties. Our approach is based on the seeded polymerization technique in which monomer-swollen particles are polymerized. The polymerization causes a phase separation to occur, giving rise to two-phase nonspherical particles. We show that the elastic contraction of the swollen polymer particles induced by elevated polymerization temperatures plays an important role in the phase separation. Moreover, chemical anisotropy of nonspherical particles can be obtained by using immiscible polymer pairs and by employing surface treatments. Furthermore, we are able to produce amphiphilic dumbbell particles consisting of two different bulbs: hydrophilic poly (ethylene imine)-coated polystyrene and hydrophobic polystyrene. Controlled geometries of these amphiphilic nonspherical particles will allow a wide range of potential applications, such as engineered colloid surfactants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basis risk or residual risk arising from disparity between an index's estimate of losses and actual losses is inherent in index-based insurance products. We approximate basis risk as the false negative probability (FNP) within pasture, rangeland, and forage (PRF) rainfall index insurance for the south-central coastal region of California. We estimate the FNP on average that at least one of two selected coverage intervals will fail to provide an indemnity when a loss is realized at 48%. The average FNP is reduced to only 11% when considering whether both selected intervals fail to provide an indemnity when a loss is realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unaccustomed eccentric exercise leads to impaired microvascular function but the underlying mechanism is unknown. In this study, we evaluated the role of oxidative stress and of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Thirty young men and women performed eccentric contractions of the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle (ECC), with the contralateral leg serving as nonexercising control (CON). Participants were randomized into three groups ingesting an antioxidant cocktail (AO), beetroot juice (BR) or placebo 46 h postexercise. At baseline and 48 h postexercise, hyperemic responses to brief muscle contractions and 5 min of cuff occlusion were assessed bilaterally in the TA muscles using blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging. Eccentric contractions resulted in delayed time‐to‐peak (~22%; P < 0.001), blunted peak (~21%; P < 0.001) and prolonged time‐to‐half relaxation (~12%, P < 0.001) in the BOLD response to brief contractions, with no effects of AO or BR, and no changes in CON. Postocclusive time‐to‐peak was also delayed (~54%; P < 0.001) in ECC, with no effects of AO or BR, and no changes in CON. Impaired microvascular reactivity after eccentric contractions is confined to the exercised tissue, and is not restored with acute ingestion of AO or BR. Impairments in microvascular reactivity after unaccustomed eccentric contractions may result from structural changes within the microvasculature that can diminish muscle blood flow regulation during intermittent activities requiring prompt adjustments in oxygen delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional architecture of the infant brain, especially functional connectivity (FC) within the amygdala network and between the amygdala and other networks (i.e., default‐mode [DMN] and salience [SAL] networks), provides a neural basis for infant socioemotional functioning. Yet, little is known about the extent to which early within‐ and between‐network amygdala FC are related to infant stress recovery across the first year of life. In this study, we examined associations between amygdala FC (i.e., within‐network amygdala connectivity, and between‐network amygdala connectivity with the DMN and SAL) at 3 months and infant recovery from a mild social stressor at 3, 6 and 9 months. At 3 months, thirty‐five infants (13 girls) underwent resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging during natural sleep. Infants and their mothers completed the still‐face paradigm at 3, 6, and 9 months, and infant stress recovery was assessed at each time point as the proportion of infant social engagement during the reunion episode. Bivariate correlations indicated that greater positive within‐network amygdala FC and greater positive amygdala‐SAL FC, but not amygdala‐DMN FC, at 3 months predicted lower levels of stress recovery at 3 and 6 months, but were nonsignificant at 9 months. These findings provide preliminary evidence that early functional synchronization within the amygdala network, as well as segregation between the amygdala and the SAL, may contribute to infant stress recovery in the context of infant–mother interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Musculoskeletal modeling uses metabolic models to estimate energy expenditure of human locomotion. However, accurate estimation of energy expenditure is challenging, which may be due to uncertainty about the true energy cost of eccentric and concentric muscle contractions. The purpose of this study was to validate three commonly used metabolic models, using isolated isokinetic concentric and eccentric knee extensions/flexions. Five resistance-trained adult males (25.6 ± 2.4 year, 90.6 ± 7.5 kg, 1.81 ± 0.09 m) performed 150 repetitions at four different torques in a dynamometer. Indirect calorimetry was used to measure energy expenditure during these muscle contractions. All three models underestimated the energy expenditure (compared with indirect calorimetry) for up to 55.8% and 78.5% for concentric and eccentric contractions, respectively. Further, the coefficient of determination was in general low for eccentric contractions (R² < 0.46) indicating increases in the absolute error with increases in load. These results show that the metabolic models perform better when predicting energy expenditure of concentric contractions compared with eccentric contractions. Thus, more knowledge about the relationship between energy expenditure and eccentric work is needed to optimize the metabolic models for musculoskeletal modeling of human locomotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is an important tool for studying the effects of nutrition on brain health. MRS can be used to measure the concentrations of metabolites which are related to cognitive performance and sensitive to diet. These measurements can provide information about metabolic efficiency, plasma membrane stability, antioxidant status, and neurotransmitter availability. MRS can therefore be used to elucidate the biochemical mechanisms by which diet influences cognition, and to characterize the effects of nutritional interventions targeted to improve cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose: This study assessed the effects of upper-body rowing exercise on cardiorespiratory fitness, traditional cardiometabolic risk factors, and vascular health in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Seventeen male and female adults with chronic (> 1 yr) motor-complete and incomplete SCI (level of injury: C4-L3) were randomized to control (CON, n = 9) or exercise (UBROW, n = 8). Participants in UBROW performed 12-week, 3 weekly sessions of 30-min upper-body ergometer rowing exercise, complying with current exercise guidelines for SCI. Cardiorespiratory fitness ( V ˙ O2peak), traditional risk factors (lipid profile, glycemic control) as well as inflammatory and vascular endothelium-derived biomarkers (derived from fasting blood samples) were measured before and after 6 (6W) and 12 weeks (12W). Brachial artery resting diameter and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) were determined by ultrasound as exploratory outcomes. Results: UBROW increased V ˙ O2peak from baseline (15.1 ± 5.1 mL/kg/min; mean ± SD) to 6W (16.5 ± 5.3; P < 0.01) and 12W (17.5 ± 6.1; P < 0.01). UBROW increased resting brachial artery diameter from baseline (4.80 ± 0.72 mm) to 12W (5.08 ± 0.91; P < 0.01), with no changes at 6W (4.96 ± 0.91), and no changes in CON. There were no significant time-by-group interactions in traditional cardiometabolic blood biomarkers, or in unadjusted or baseline diameter corrected FMD. Explorative analyses revealed inverse correlations between changes (∆12W-baseline) in endothelin-1 and changes in resting diameter (r = − 0.56) and FMD% (r = − 0.60), both P < 0.05. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that 12 weeks of upper-body rowing complying with current exercise guidelines for SCI improves cardiorespiratory fitness and increases resting brachial artery diameter. In contrast, the exercise intervention had no or only modest effects on traditional cardiometabolic risk factors. The study was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (N-20190053, May 15, 2020). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose was to investigate differences in reliability of running economy measurements between familiar and unfamiliar shoes. Thirty-seven runners were included who all ran in familiar and unfamiliar running shoes while running economy was measured at steady state using a treadmill. Each participant was tested on two different visits (three sessions in total), with two trials in each of the three shoe conditions completed at each visit. Coefficient of variation, standard deviation of differences, and limits of agreement of running economy were used to quantify the repeatability (within-visit variation) and reproducibility (between-visit variation). The coefficient of variation showed a marginal difference in reproducibility across shoe conditions, whereas no differences were seen in coefficient of variation, standard deviation of the differences, or limits of agreement for repeatability across shoes. All three shoe conditions showed greater repeatability than reproducibility for running economy, and enhanced repeatability at visit 3 compared to visit 2. Our results indicate that familiarisation to shoes might not be needed for reliable measurements of running economy. Based on our results, when evaluating benefits in running shoes we suggest that running economy be assessed within the same day. Further, our data suggest a beneficial effect of using multiple familiarisation sessions if small differences between shoe conditions are expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of calibrating hedging strategies for processors has escalated primarily due to the sharply increased volatility of futures, product, and by-product prices. The purpose of this paper is to analyze price risk-management strategies for wheat flour milling using copula distributions. While the application is for flour milling, it has similarities with other processing industries which confront one or more ingredients, one or more outputs, and futures for one of the commodities and/or products. The paper develops utility maximizing models encompassing expected return and risk. Alternative scenarios are evaluated. First, the models were used to derive optimal hedge ratios, as well as various measures of risk and return under alternative scenarios, and hedge durations. The results indicated hedge ratios are typically less than 1. The hedge ratios for the Mean-value-at-risk (M-VaR)-Copula model increased with greater durations. Second, the VaR for the M-VaR-Copula was in most cases less than the noncopula specifications. Thus, noncopula models may over state risk as represented by VaR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowing how many people are likely to benefit from a newly developed running shoe is of high relevance for footwear developers, phrasing legal claims and ultimately purchasing consumers. In order to assess and evaluate a likely scenario, the between-days reproducibility of percentages benefitting from lighter conventional flat running shoes (CON) or lighter advanced shoes with high stack height and longitudinally placed stiffening element (ADV) was investigated in a pool of 32 recreational runners. After comparing ADV and CON against running in heavier familiar shoes (OWN), percentages of the participant pool benefitting at different magnitudes of metabolic saving were derived. When comparing percentages of participants benefitting from CON and ADV between visits, retest correlation coefficients were respectively 0.95 and 0.99. Across magnitudes, the typical errors of percentages benefitting were 9.18% (CON) and 3.46% (ADV). Stated group averages of i.e. 4% metabolic savings when running in ADV, may potentially lead to the false assumption that the stated benefit applies to every runner. In contrast, based on our introduced approach, one can reliably state that a metabolic saving of i.e. 4% can be expected for at least 25% of recreational runners. Therefore, the expected percentage population benefitting at given magnitudes might be a more transparent expression for developers, marketing teams and consumers considering the relatively large measurement error of footwear induced metabolic savings on individual level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ter Beek, F, Jokumsen, PS, Sloth, BN, Thomas Stevenson, AJ, and Larsen, RG. Ischemic preconditioning attenuates rating of perceived exertion but does not improve maximal oxygen consumption or maximal power output. J Strength Cond Res 36(9): 2479–2485, 2022—Brief consecutive periods of limb ischemia and reperfusion, known as ischemic preconditioning (IPC), have been reported to increase maximal power output (MPO) during cycling. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of IPC on MPO, maximal oxygen consumption (V̇ o 2max), muscle oxygenation, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) during an incremental cycling test. Fourteen healthy young men participated in this double-blinded, randomized crossover study, involving IPC (250 mm Hg; four 5-minute cycles of ischemia) and sham (20 mm Hg) treatment followed by an incremental cycling test to exhaustion. During the cycling test, V̇ o 2, RPE, heart rate (HR), blood lactate (BL), and muscle oxygenation and deoxygenation (near-infrared spectroscopy) were measured. MPO, V̇ o 2max, HRmax, and muscle deoxygenation did not change with IPC (all p -values > 0.13). Furthermore, IPC had no significant effect on V̇ o 2, HR, or muscle oxygenation during the incremental cycling test (all p -values > 0.18). However, IPC attenuated RPE during cycling at 210 W (IPC: median 17.0 [interquartile range 15.3–19.0]; sham: 17.5 [17.0–19.0]; p = 0.007) and 245 W (IPC: 18.0 [17.0–18.8]; sham: 19.0 [18.0–19.8]; p = 0.011). A single session of IPC did not improve MPO, V̇ o 2max, or measures of oxygen consumption during the cycling test. However, IPC lowered RPE at 210 and 245 W, suggesting that IPC may attenuate the perception of effort at higher submaximal exercise intensities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infections that cause inflammation during the postnatal period are common, yet little is known about their impact on brain development in gyrencephalic species. To address this issue, we investigated brain development in domestic piglets which have brain growth and morphology similar to human infants, after experimentally infecting them with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) to induce an interstitial pneumonia Piglets were inoculated with PRRSV on postnatal day (PD) 7 and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to assess brain macrostructure (voxel-based morphometry), microstructure (diffusion tensor imaging) and neurochemistry (MR-spectroscopy) at PD 29 or 30. PRRSV piglets exhibited signs of infection throughout the post-inoculation period and had elevated plasma levels of TNFα at the end of the study. PRRSV infection increased the volume of several components of the ventricular system including the cerebral aqueduct, fourth ventricle, and the lateral ventricles. Group comparisons between control and PRRSV piglets defined 8 areas where PRRSV piglets had less gray matter volume; 5 areas where PRRSV piglets had less white matter volume; and 4 relatively small areas where PRRSV piglets had more white matter. Of particular interest was a bilateral reduction in gray and white matter in the primary visual cortex. PRRSV piglets tended to have reduced fractional anisotropy in the corpus callosum. Additionally, N -acetylaspartate, creatine, and myo-inositol were decreased in the hippocampus of PRRSV piglets suggesting disrupted neuronal and glial health and energy imbalances. These findings show in a gyrencephalic species that early-life infection can affect brain growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared metabolic power (MP) and time trial (TT) running performance between Adidas Adizero Adios (AAA) and Nike VaporFly 4% (NVP). Thirty-seven runners completed three laboratory sessions and two field sessions (n=30). After familiarization (visit 1), participants completed eight 6-min treadmill running bouts (four with each shoe, counterbalanced) at their preferred pace, and MP was assessed using indirect calorimetry (visits 2 and 3). During visits 4 and 5, participants completed two outdoor TTs (~3.5 km) in NVP and AAA (counterbalanced). Compared with AAA, NVP exhibited superior MP (NVP: median=13.88 (Q1–Q3=12.90–15.08 W/kg; AAA: median=14.08 (Q1–Q3=13.12–15.44 W/kg; z=−4.81, p<.001, effect size=.56) and TT (NVP=793±98 s; AAA=802±100 s, p=.001; effect size=.09). However, there was no relationship between changes in MP and changes in TT between shoes (r=.151 p=.425, 95% confidence interval=[−.22;.48]). Our results demonstrate that NVP, compared with AAA, improves MP and TT in recreational runners. The lack of correlation between changes in MP and TT indicates that factors other than improved MP contribute to faster short-distance TT with NVP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We tested the hypothesis that older muscle has greater metabolic economy (ME) in vivo than young, in a manner dependent, in part, on contraction intensity. Twenty young (Y; 24 ± 1 yr, 10 women), 18 older healthy (O; 73 ± 2, 9 women) and 9 older individuals with mild-to-moderate mobility impairment (OI; 74 ± 1, 7 women) received stimulated twitches (2 Hz, 3 min) and performed nonfatiguing voluntary (20, 50, and 100% maximal; 12 s each) isometric dorsiflexion contractions. Torque-time integrals (TTI; Nm∙s) were calculated and expressed relative to maximal fat-free muscle cross-sectional area (cm2), and torque variability during voluntary contractions was calculated as the coefficient of variation. Total ATP cost of contraction (mM) was determined from flux through the creatine kinase reaction, nonoxidative glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, and used to calculate ME (Nm∙s∙cm-2∙mM ATP-1). While twitch torque relaxation was slower in O and OI compared with Y (P ≤ 0.001), twitch TTI, ATP cost, and economy were similar across groups (P ≥ 0.15), indicating comparable intrinsic muscle economy during electrically induced isometric contractions in vivo. During voluntary contractions, normalized TTI and total ATP cost did not differ significantly across groups (P ≥ 0.20). However, ME was lower in OI than Y or O at 20% and 50% MVC (P ≤ 0.02), and torque variability was greater in OI than Y or O at 20% MVC (P ≤ 0.05). These results refute the hypothesis of greater muscle ME in old age, and provide support for lower ME in impaired older adults as a potential mechanism or consequence of age-related reductions in functional mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dairy heifers developed in certified organic programs, especially those utilizing pasture-based management schemes, have lower rates of gain than heifers raised in nonorganic confinement production systems in temperate climates, such as in the Intermountain West region of the United States. This study investigates the effects that different forages in a rotational grazing system have on development of organically raised Jersey heifers. Over 3 years, 210 yearling Jersey heifers were randomly assigned to one of 9 treatments, including a conventional confinement control where animals were fed a total mixed ration or one of 8 pasture treatments: Cache Meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius Rehmann), QuickDraw orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.), Amazon perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), or Fawn tall fescue (Schendonorus arundinaceus [Schreb.] Dumort) and each individual grass interseeded with birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L., BFT). Each treatment had 3 blocks/yr over the 3-yr period, with each block having a 0.4 ha pasture of each treatment. Every 35 d, over a 105-d period, heifers were weighed and measured for hip height, and blood samples were collected to determine serum insulin-like growth factor-1 and blood urea nitrogen concentrations. Fecal egg counts were also assessed. Heifer body weight (BW), blood urea nitrogen, and insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations were affected by treatment when analyzed over time. Heifers on grass-BFT pastures had increased BW compared with heifers on monoculture grass pastures. Heifers receiving a total mixed ration or perennial ryegrass+BFT had increased BW gain over the 105-d period compared with heifers grazing tall fescue+BFT, orchard grass, perennial ryegrass, meadow bromegrass, or tall fescue. Individually for all grass species, heifers grazing +BFT pastures had greater ending BW and weight gain than heifers grazing the respective grass monocultures. Furthermore, weight gain for heifers on perennial ryegrass+BFT, meadow bromegrass+BFT, and orchard grass+BFT were not different from those on a total mixed ration. Heifers grazing grass-BFT pastures had increased blood urea nitrogen compared with heifers grazing monoculture grass pastures. Heifer hip height and fecal egg counts were not affected by treatment. These results show that the addition of BFT to organic pasture improves growth of grazing replacement heifers. Economic analyses also demonstrate that interseeding grass pastures with BFT results in an increased economic return compared with grazing monoculture grass pastures. Grass pastures interseeded with BFT may be a sustainable option to achieve adequate growth of Jersey heifers raised in an organic pasture scenario in a temperate climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The link between spatial (where) and temporal (when) aspects of the neural correlates of most psychological phenomena is not clear. Elucidation of this relation, which is crucial to fully understand human brain function, requires integration across multiple brain imaging modalities and cognitive tasks that reliably modulate the engagement of the brain systems of interest. By overcoming the methodological challenges posed by simultaneous recordings, the present report provides proof‐of‐concept evidence for a novel approach using three complementary imaging modalities: functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), event‐related potentials (ERPs), and event‐related optical signals (EROS). Using the emotional oddball task, a paradigm that taps into both cognitive and affective aspects of processing, we show the feasibility of capturing converging and complementary measures of brain function that are not currently attainable using traditional unimodal or other multimodal approaches. This opens up unprecedented possibilities to clarify spatiotemporal integration of brain function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary nitrate (NO 3 −) supplementation via beetroot juice (BR) has been reported to lower oxygen cost (i.e., increased exercise efficiency) and speed up oxygen uptake (VO 2) kinetics in untrained and moderately trained individuals, particularly during conditions of low oxygen availability (i.e., hypoxia). However, the effects of multiple-day, high dose (12.4 mmol NO 3− per day) BR supplementation on exercise efficiency and VO 2 kinetics during normoxia and hypoxia in well-trained individuals are not resolved. In a double-blinded, randomized crossover study, 12 well-trained cyclists (66.4 ± 5.3 ml min−1∙kg−1) completed three transitions from rest to moderate-intensity (~70% of gas exchange threshold) cycling in hypoxia and normoxia with supplementation of BR or nitrate-depleted BR as placebo. Continuous measures of VO 2 and muscle (vastus lateralis) deoxygenation (ΔHHb, using near-infrared spectroscopy) were acquired during all transitions. Kinetics of VO 2 and deoxygenation (ΔHHb) were modeled using mono-exponential functions. Our results showed that BR supplementation did not alter the primary time constant for VO 2 or ΔHHb during the transition from rest to moderate-intensity cycling. While BR supplementation lowered the amplitude of the VO 2 response (2.1%, p = 0.038), BR did not alter steady state VO 2 derived from the fit (p = 0.258), raw VO 2 data (p = 0.231), moderate intensity exercise efficiency (p = 0.333) nor steady state ΔHHb (p = 0.224). Altogether, these results demonstrate that multiple-day, high-dose BR supplementation does not alter exercise efficiency or oxygen uptake kinetics during normoxia and hypoxia in well-trained athletes. • NO 3 − supplementation does not alter moderate-intensity VO 2 or HHb kinetics. • Oxygen uptake during moderate-intensity cycling were unchanged in trained athletes. • The effects of NO 3 − supplementation were not different between hypoxia and normoxia. • Beetroot juice did not improve exercise efficiency in well-trained athletes. • NO 3 − supplementation did not change muscle deoxygenation kinetics of well-trained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Patients with kidney failure undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD) therapy are routinely counseled to reduce dietary sodium intake to ameliorate sodium retention, volume overload, and hypertension. However, low‐sodium diet trials in HD are sparse and indicate that dietary education and behavioral counseling are ineffective in reducing sodium intake. This study aimed to determine whether 4 weeks of low‐sodium, home‐delivered meals in HD patients reduces interdialytic weight gain (IDWG). Secondary outcomes included changes in dietary sodium intake, thirst, xerostomia, blood pressure, volume overload, and muscle sodium concentration. Methods: Twenty HD patients (55 ± 12 years, body mass index [BMI] 40.7 ± 16.6 kg/m2) were enrolled in this study. Participants followed a usual (control) diet for the first 4 weeks followed by 4 weeks of three low‐sodium, home‐delivered meals per day. We measured IDWG, hydration status (bioimpedance), standardized blood pressure (BP), food intake (3‐day dietary recall), and muscle sodium (magnetic resonance imaging) at baseline (0 M), after the 4‐week period of usual diet (1 M), and after the meal intervention (2 M). Findings: The low‐sodium meal intervention significantly reduced IDWG when compared to the control period (−0.82 ± 0.14 kg; 95% confidence interval, −0.55 to −1.08 kg; P < 0.001). There were also 1 month (1 M) to 2 month (2 M) reductions in dietary sodium intake (−1687 ± 297 mg; P < 0.001); thirst score (−4.4 ± 1.3; P = 0.003), xerostomia score (−6.7 ± 1.9; P = 0.002), SBP (−18.0 ± 3.6 mmHg; P < 0.001), DBP (−5.9 ± 2.0 mmHg; P = 0.008), and plasma phosphorus −1.55 ± 0.21 mg/dL; P = 0.005), as well as a 0 M to 2 M reduction in absolute volume overload (−1.08 ± 0.33 L; P = 0.025). However, there were no significant changes in serum or tissue sodium (all P > 0.05). Discussion: Low‐sodium, home‐meal delivery appears to be an effective method for improving volume control and blood pressure in HD patients. Future studies with larger sample sizes are needed to examine the long‐term effects of home‐delivered meals on these outcomes and to assess cost‐effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotional well-being depends on the ability to adaptively cope with various emotional challenges. Most studies have investigated the neural mechanisms of emotion regulation strategies deployed relatively later in the timing of processing that leads to full emotional experiences. However, less is known about strategies that are engaged in earlier stages of emotion processing, such as those involving attentional deployment. We investigated the neural mechanisms associated with self-guided Focused Attention (FA) in mitigating subjective negative emotional experiences. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were recorded while participants viewed a series of composite negative and neutral images with distinguishable foreground (FG) and background (BG) areas. Participants were instructed to focus either on the FG or BG components of the images, and then rated their emotional experiences. Behavioral results showed that FA was successful in decreasing emotional ratings for negative images viewed in BG Focus condition. At the neural level, the BG Focus was associated with increased activity in regions typically implicated in top-down executive control (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and lateral parietal cortex) and decreased activity in regions linked to affective processing (amygdala and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex). Dissociable brain activity linked to FA also was identified in visual cortices, including between the parahippocampal and fusiform gyri, showing increased versus decreased activity, respectively, during the BG Focus. These findings complement the evidence from prior FA studies with recollected emotional memories as internal stimuli and further demonstrate the effectiveness of self-guided FA in mitigating negative emotional experiences associated with processing of external unpleasant stimuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

32445849 2 Hansen RK, Samani A, Laessoe U. Rowing exercise increases cardiorespiratory fitness and brachial artery diameter but not traditional cardiometabolic risk factors in spinal cord-injured humans. It is thus indisputable that retainment of sympathetic nervous system function is critical for a variety of exercise and health-related outcomes, including the normal hemodynamic adjustments to exercise that ensure redistribution of blood flow and O SB 2 sb to the active muscles (Rowell [5]). [Extracted from the article]

Abstract Dietary nitrate (NO 3 −) supplementation via beetroot juice (BR) is known to improve endurance performance in untrained and moderately trained individuals. However, conflicting results exist in well-trained individuals. Evidence suggests that the effects of NO 3 − are augmented during conditions of reduced oxygen availability (e.g., hypoxia), thereby increasing the probability of performance improvements for well-trained athletes in hypoxia vs. normoxia. This randomized, double-blinded, counterbalanced-crossover study examined the effects of 7 days of BR supplementation with 12.4 mmol NO 3 − per day on 10-km cycling time trial (TT) performance in 12 well-trained cyclists in normoxia (N) and normobaric hypoxia (H). Linear mixed models for repeated measures revealed increases in plasma NO 3 − and NO 2 − after supplementation with BR (both p < 0.001). Further, TT performance increased with BR supplementation (∼1.6%, p < 0.05), with no difference between normoxia and hypoxia (p = 0.92). For respiratory variables there were significant effects of supplementation on VO 2 (p < 0.05) and VE (p < 0.05) such that average VO 2 and VE during the TT increased with BR, with no difference between normoxia and hypoxia (p ≥ 0.86). We found no effect of supplementation on heart rate, oxygen saturation or muscle oxygenation during the TT. Our results provide new evidence that chronic high-dose NO 3 − supplementation improves cycling performance of well-trained cyclists in both normoxia and hypoxia. Highlights • High-dose NO 3 − supplementation improved time trial performance of cyclists. • Oxygen uptake during the time trial was elevated with NO 3 − supplementation. • The effects of NO 3 − supplementation were not different between hypoxia and normoxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prognosis for men with non-aggressive prostate cancer is good, and several studies have investigated the impact of lifestyle changes including physical activity and diet on the prognosis. Despite positive results in animal studies and a few human interventions with whole-grain rye on markers of prostate cancer progression, the feasibility of trials investigating such dietary changes in combination with physical activity remains largely unstudied. The primary aim was to investigate the feasibility of an intervention with high whole-grain rye intake and vigorous physical activity for 6 months in men diagnosed with prostate cancer.Methods: In total, 26 men (53-72 years) recently diagnosed with non-aggressive prostate cancer and on active surveillance, were enrolled in 2011-2012 and randomly assigned to an intervention or a control group. The intervention included 170 g/day of whole-grain rye and 3 × 45 minutes/week of vigorous physical activity. The duration of the intervention was 6 months and end of follow-up 12 months after baseline. Clinic visits were scheduled at baseline and 3, 6 and 12 months after baseline. Compliance with the intervention was evaluated by diaries, food frequency questionnaires, biomarkers, and heart rate monitor data. The effect of the intervention was evaluated by linear multiple regression analysis.Results: In the intervention group, the mean daily intake of whole-grain rye measured from diaries was 146 g (SD: 19) for the first 3 months and 125 g (SD: 40) for the last 3 months of the intervention. The median level (5th and 95th percentiles) of vigorous physical activity was 91 (17, 193) min/week for the first 3 months and 66 (13, 259) min/week for the last 3 months. No recordings of physical activity were done for the control group. Aerobic fitness (VO2 peak) increased in the intervention group compared to the control group after the intervention. No effects were found on other cardio-metabolic outcomes or prostate cancer progression.Conclusions: The lifestyle intervention appeared feasible for 6 months among Danish men and the results are encouraging for conducting full-scale studies, where the impact of whole-grain rye and vigorous physical activity on prostate cancer progression and metabolic parameters can be evaluated.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01300104 . Registered on 18 February 2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Noninvasive imaging of oxygen uptake may provide a useful tool for the quantification of energy expenditure during human locomotion. A novel thermal imaging method (optical flow) was validated against indirect calorimetry for the estimation of energy expenditure during human walking and running. Methods: Fourteen endurance-trained subjects completed a discontinuous incremental exercise test on a treadmill. Subjects performed 4-min intervals at 3, 5, and 7 km⋅h-1 (walking) and at 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 km⋅h-1 (running) with 30 s of rest between intervals. Heart rate, gas exchange, and mean accelerations of ankle, thigh, wrist, and hip were measured throughout the exercise test. A thermal camera (30 frames per second) was used to quantify optical flow, calculated as the movements of the limbs relative to the trunk (internal mechanical work) and vertical movement of the trunk (external vertical mechanical work). Results: Heart rate, gross oxygen uptake (mL⋅kg-1⋅min-1) together with gross and net energy expenditure (J⋅kg-1⋅min-1) rose with increasing treadmill velocities, as did optical flow measurements and mean accelerations (g) of ankle, thigh, wrist, and hip. Oxygen uptake was linearly correlated with optical flow across all exercise intensities (R² = 0.96, P < 0.0001; ...O2 [mL⋅kg-1⋅min-1] = 7.35 + 9.85 x optical flow [arbitrary units]). Only 3-4 s of camera recording was required to estimate an optical flow value at each velocity. Conclusions: Optical flow measurements provide an accurate estimation of energy expenditure during horizontal walking and running. The technique offers a novel experimental method of estimating energy expenditure during human locomotion, without use of interfering equipment attached to the subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]