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The aim of our study was to evaluate the anthropometric features used in the determination of somatotypes of patients with rotator cuff tears (RCT) and the condition before and after physiotherapy. In our study, 84 patients (43 female, 41 male) who were admitted to Tekirdağ State Hospital in 2020-2021 and diagnosed with RCT were included. Participants were grouped and evaluated in terms of age and gender. Visual analog scale (VAS) scoring for pain, Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) index, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and Quick Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores for shoulder function and range of motion (ROM) values were measured. The Heath-Carter method was used for somatotype determination. Conventional physical therapy was applied to patients. 64 (76.2%) patients had endomorph-mesomorph, 14 (17%) had mesomorph-endomorph, 4 (5%) had mesomorph-endomorph, 1 (1%) had balanced mesomorph and 1 (1%) had ectomorph-endomorph somatotype. 71.4% of the participants younger than 45 years of age and 50% of those between 45 and 55 had partial tears; 80% of those between 56 and 65 and 76.5% of those older than 65 had a complete tear. Of the patients, 53.3% had cardiovascular diseases, 41.3% had problems with the digestive system, 25% had diabetes, and 24% had problems with the musculoskeletal system. The presence of RCT in the non-dominant shoulder was detected in 33.5% of the patients. There were statistically significant differences between the median values of VAS, Quick DASH, WORC, SPADI, and ROM before and after physical therapy. Regardless of gender, RCT patients had predominantly mesomorphic body types. Individuals with mesomorphic body types are more likely to have RCT. The presence of full-thickness tears was found to be closely related to advanced age. Physiotherapy has been proven to be beneficial for RCT patients in our study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been found that anthropometric swimming performance factors may be related to and affect swimming performance. In light of this, the study's objective was to examine the association between certain motoric and anthropometric traits and 25-meter freestyle swimming performance results. A total of 16 male swimming students from Yozgat Bozok University's Faculty of Sport Sciences (age: 21.75±1.23 years; weight: 78.29±13.04 kg; height: 177±5.44 cm; body fat percentage: 17±7.5 %) took part in the study as volunteers. Height, body mass, skinfold thickness, circumference measurements (biceps in flexion, calf), diameter measurements (humerus epicondyle, femur epicondyle), static flexibility measurements (shoulder flexion, trunk-neck extension, ankle extension), and strength measurements (leg strength, back strength) were carried out to assess the anthropometric measurements of swimming students. In a semi-Olympic swimming pool, short-course freestyle scores of swimming students were recorded. The data appeared to have a normal distribution after the skewness and kurtosis tests, so the Pearson Correlation test was used to look at the correlation between 25-meter freestyle swimming levels and other characteristics. It was discovered that there was no statistically significant correlation between static flexibility and strength tests and 25-meter freestyle swimming performance results, but there was a negative and statistically significant correlation between swimming performance results of swimming students and mesomorph variables (r=-0.529, p=0.035). It is believed that identifying swimmers' somatotype structures may be crucial for talent selection and serve as an indicator of swimming ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Hexavalent Chromium Contamination in Groundwater: Erin Brockovich Promulgating Awareness Since 2000" discusses the impact of chromium poisoning in Hinkley, CA, as portrayed in the film Erin Brockovich. The protagonist, Erin Brockovich, uncovers the source of poisoning in groundwater due to unlined wastewater ponds, leading to severe health issues in residents. The article highlights the harmful effects of hexavalent chromium, emphasizing the importance of clean and safe drinking water. It also addresses the remediation efforts and ongoing research to regulate chromium levels in affected areas, shedding light on the broader issue of groundwater contamination. [Extracted from the article]

PurposeTotal and regional body composition are important indicators of health and mortality risk, but their measurement is usually restricted to controlled environments in clinical settings with expensive and specialized equipment. A method that approaches the accuracy of the current gold standard method, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), while only requiring input from widely available consumer grade equipment, would enable the measurement of these important biometrics in the wild, enabling data collection at a scale that would have previously been prohibitive in time and expense. We describe an algorithm for predicting three-dimensional (3D) body shape and composition from a single frontal 2-dimensional image acquired with a digital consumer camera.MethodsDuplicate 3D optical scans, two-dimensional (2D) optical images, and DXA whole-body scans were available for 183 men and 233 women from the Shape Up! Adults Study. A principal component analysis vector basis was fit to 3D point clouds of a training subset of 152 men and 194 women. The relationship between this vector space and DXA-derived body composition was modeled with linear regression. The principal component 3D shape was then fitted to match a silhouette extracted from a 2D photograph of a novel body. Body composition was predicted from the resulting 3D shape match using the linear mapping between the principal component parameters and the DXA metrics. Accuracy of body composition estimates from the silhouette method was evaluated against a simple model using height and weight as a baseline, and against DXA measurements as ground truth. Test-retest precision of the silhouette method was evaluated using the duplicate 2D optical images and compared against precision of the duplicate DXA scans. Paired t-tests were performed to detect significant differences between the sets.ResultsResults were reported on a held-out set. Body composition prediction achieved R2 s of 0.81 and 0.74 for percent fat prediction of males and females, respectively, on a held-out test set consisting of 31 males and 39 females. Precision estimates for fat mass were 2.31% and 2.06% for males and females, respectively, compared to 1.26% and 0.68% for DXA scans. The t-tests revealed no statistically significant differences between the silhouette method measurements and DXA measurements, or between retests.ConclusionTotal and regional body composition measures can be estimated from a single frontal photograph of a human body. Body composition prediction using consumer level photography can enable early screening and monitoring of possible physiological indicators of metabolic disease in regions where medical imagery or clinical assessment is inaccessible.

Featured Application: Coaches and sport managers in charge of talent identification processes in sprint canoeing might take into considerations these findings not only to select potential successful paddlers but also to enhance their attributes during early stages. Elite kayakers are characterized by robust somatotypes and a high degree of technical skills acquired from early ages along the biological maturity process. This study aimed to analyze the interdependence of anthropometric attributes, maturity status, and new stroke kinematics variables such as long- and short-term stroke steadiness in young sprint paddlers. Twenty-two elite young male canoeists, aged 13.5 ± 0.4 years, volunteered for the investigation. A battery of anthropometric measurements was obtained for each individual while stroke kinematics were determined by lateral recordings in an all-out 200 m test. Frame-to-frame analysis of consecutive strokes allowed the determination of short-term and long-term steadiness. Significant and positive correlations (p < 0.05) between maturity status, canoeing experience, and stroke steadiness were identified, especially in long-term steadiness (r = 0.60–0.83). In addition, upper-body dimensions in the chest and arms exhibited strong associations with both short- and long-term steadiness (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that biological maturity, but particularly experience, are key factors for a higher stroke efficiency. Therefore, early identification of morphological characteristics and maturity status along with specific practice in canoeing should be taken into consideration for ideal talent development in young canoeists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exosomes are small extracellular phospholipid bilayer vesicles with a diameter of 30 ~ 150 nm and rich in proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and other bioactive substances. They are widely distributed in various body fludis, such as plasma, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, etc., and secreted by almost all types of cells in the human body. More and more studies have shown proof that exosomes have important biological functions. They not only participate in regulation of a variety of physiological and pathological process, but also play an important role in the diagnosis, development and treatment of diseases. In recent years, exosomes derived from circulating plasma have become a hot topic in exosomes research because they are easier to obtain specimens and carry out real-time detection. In this paper, the related disease research and clinical applications of circulating plasma exosomes are reviewed in order to provide a reference for its further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a type of bioactive sphingolipid, can regulate various cellular functions of distinct cell types in the human body. S1P is generated intracellularly by the catalysis of sphingosine kinase 1/2 (SphK1/2). S1P is transferred to the extracellular environment via the S1P transporter, binds to cellular S1P receptors (S1PRs) and subsequently activates S1P-S1PR downstream signaling. Dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota, immune dysregulation and damage to epithelial barriers are associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Generally, S1P mainly exerts a proinflammatory effect by binding to S1PR1 on lymphocytes to facilitate lymphocyte migration to inflamed tissues, and increased S1P was found in the intestinal mucosa of IBD patients. Notably, there is an interaction between the distribution of gut bacteria and SphK-S1P signaling in the intestinal epithelium. S1P-S1PR signaling can also regulate the functions of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) in mucosa, including cell proliferation and apoptosis. Additionally, increased S1P in immune cells of the lamina propria aggravates the inflammatory response by increasing the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Several novel drugs targeted at S1PRs have recently been used for IBD treatment. This review provides an overview of the S1P-S1PR signaling pathway and, in particular, summarizes the various roles of S1P in the gut mucosal microenvironment to deeply explore the function of S1P-S1PR signaling during intestinal inflammation and, more importantly, to identify potential therapeutic targets for IBD in the SphK-S1PS1PR axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropometric characteristics, including body size, shape, and composition, can have a significant impact on sports performance due to their influence on various physiological and biomechanical factors. However, limited research has been conducted on the anthropometric characteristics of highly trained throwing para-athletes. The purpose of this study was to describe the anthropometric characteristics, handgrip strength, and upper limb bilateral asymmetries of highly trained Chilean shot put para-throwers. Five male Chilean shot put para-athletes (average age of 38.8 ± 7.7 years) were assessed for their anthropometric characteristics, including skinfold thickness at six anatomical sites, girth at five sites, and bone breadth at two sites. Handgrip strength and bilateral asymmetries were also measured. The body mass and height of the athletes were found to be 90.5 ± 5.1 kg and 179.1 ± 8.9 cm, respectively. The athletes were found to have an endo-mesomorph somatotype (4.4-6.9-1.0) with high levels of fat mass (25.7 ± 2.8 %) and skeletal muscle mass (39.1 ± 3.7 %). The handgrip strength of the athletes was found to be 66.4 ± 6.7 kg with a bilateral asymmetry of 6.5 ± 6.2 %, with the dominant hand showing greater strength. The results indicate that the shot put para-athletes have a somatotype characterized by increased muscularity and body fat, along with a considerable stature. Although handgrip strength was found to be high, the athletes showed bilateral asymmetry, which requires further investigation to determine the cause and implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have the unique ability to differentiate into any cell type in the human body and to proliferate indefinitely. Cell therapies involving hESC have shown very promising results for the treatment of certain diseases and confirmed the safety of hESC-derived cells for humans. They are used in cell therapy, mainly in targeted therapy of diseases that are currently incurable. Objectives. The aim of this study was the derivation of clinical-grade hESCs usable in drug development, non-native medicine and cell therapy. Materials and methods. Embryos were thawed, cultivated to the blastocyst stage if necessary, and assisted hatching was subsequently performed. Embryoblasts were mechanically isolated using narrow needles. Each line was kept as a separate batch. The derived hESCs were cultured under hypoxic culture conditions (5% O2, 5% CO2, 37°C) in a NutriStem® hPSC XF Medium with a daily medium change. Results. From January 2018 to July 2020, 138 selected clients were asked for consent to donate embryos, of whom 52 did not respond, 19 terminated the storage of their embryos and 29 extended the storage. Only 38 clients (27.5%) agreed to donate embryos for the derivation of hESCs. At the same time, personal communication with clients took place and another 17 embryo donors were recruited. A total of 160 embryos from 55 donors aged 26-42 years were collected. The embryos were frozen at the blastocyst (33.1%) or morula (46.3%) stage. After the preparation of 64 embryos, embryoblasts were isolated and cultured. Finally, 7 hESC lines were obtained, 4 research-grade and 3 clinical-grade, the first in the Czech Republic. Conclusions. We established a current good manufacturing practice (cGMP)-defined xeno-free and feederfree system for the derivation, culture and banking of clinical-grade hESC lines that are suitable for preclinical and clinical trials. The quality control testing with criteria concerning sterility, safety and characterization according to cGMP ensured the clinical-grade quality of hESC lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Evaluation of the relationship between craniofacial parameters and somatotype provides important contributions to specialist physicians and anatomists in determining diseases and obtaining objective results of anthropometric measurements. The study was designed in line with this hypothesis and the aim was to find out how this relationship changed in healthy individuals. Methods: The study was conducted by examining 191 healthy individuals between the ages of 18 and 30. The individuals' faces were photographed from a distance of 1 meter and craniofacial parameters were measured in Image J program. Somatotype analysis was conducted by using Heath-Carter somatotype method. Results: As a result of our study, the individuals were found to be grouped in four classes according to Heath-Carter somatotype method: (1) mesomorph endomorph, (2) endomorph ectomorph, (3) endomorph mesomorph and (4) central. Significant correlation was found between the second and first somatotype groups in terms of total nasal length, while significant correlation was found between second and first/second and third/fourth and third/first and third somatotype groups in terms of body mass index (BMI) parameter (p < 0.05). Craniofacial parameters were also evaluated and a very high correlation was found between total facial height and mandibular height, while there was a high correlation between total facial height and the other 16 parameters. Conclusions: As a result of our study, a relationship was found between somatotype groups and craniofacial parameters, within craniofacial parameters, and between somatotype and BMI. We believe that this relationship will guide morphological studies in basic medical sciences and surgical interventions in clinical sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescence is the time when human biology is changing rapidly, so the changes in physique during this phase are quite obvious. The present study was conducted among 289 Pnar girls aged 10-18 years living in Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya to assess the variation in somatotypes among Pnar girls during adolescence. An attempt was made to include all the girls who were willing to cooperate in the sample to obtain a sufficient sample size. The Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype method was used. The anthropometric measurements were carried out using standard techniques. The results of the present study showed that the mean somatotype of Pnar girls was endomorphy 3.08, mesomorphy 3.79 and ectomorphy 2.35. Mesomorphy was the most dominant at 41%, followed by endomorphy at 34% and ectomorphy at 25%. The study also shows that the somatotypes in the present study change with increasing age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The establishment of a correlation between tooth dimensions and body size is crucial within the realm of forensic odontology. While numerous investigations have focused on the association between tooth morphology or width and stature, limited reports exist regarding the correlation between overall body structure or build and odontogenic parameters. This study focuses on finding a correlation between inter-arch dimensions and the body build of an individual. Aims: This study aimed to examine the potential correlation between an individual's somatotype (body build) and the measurements of inter-canine and inter-premolar maxillary arch widths. Study Settings: Dayananda Sagar College of Dental Sciences. Study Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods and Material: The sample size of the study was 153 individuals aged 18-25 years. Impressions for the maxillary arch were taken, study models were made and inter-arch measurements were taken using a digital Vernier calliper. For body build measurements, Heath-Carter somatotype measuring technique was used. The collected data were entered into an Excel sheet, and statistical analysis was done. Statistical Analysis Used: Principal component analysis. Results: On using principal component analysis, it was seen that there exists no correlation between body build of an individual when compared to inter-canine and inter-premolar distances. Conclusions: While no positive correlation has been seen between the odontometric parameters and specific body type, it can be argued that this can be due to the cited limitations of the study. Hence, we conclude with the note that a more detailed study would offer more viable and credible results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine the kidney morphology and somatotype components of adult patients with early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: The sample consisted of 46 individuals with early-stage CKD (26 men and 20 women, mean age=45.92±16.53 years). The pathological subjects were compared with a control group consisting of 46 healthy subjects (28 men and 18 women, mean age=41.96±11.48 years). The Heath-Carter method was used to determine somatotype components. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) of patients with Stage 2 CKD and healthy volunteers taken within the past 3 months was scanned to determine kidney morphology. Kidney measurements were performed on CTs (length, width, depth, and volume of kidney). Results: Kidney patients (mean somatotype: 6.33-5.37-0.6) were less ectomorphic and more endomorphic than the controls (mean somatotype: 4.35-4.40-3.02). Moderate effect size (ES) was found in endomorphy (ES=0.87; p=0.035) and ectomorphy (ES=1.08; p=0.012) between groups. No significant difference was observed in the kidney morphology (ES=0.04-0.19; p>0.05). Conclusion: In the early-stage CKD, kidney morphology may not be the distinguishing factor. On the other hand, patients differed significantly in terms of endomorph components. Being overweight can also be one of the negative findings for kidney disease. Somatotype classification could be a suitable tool for monitoring kidney disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The allergic asthma phenotype is characterized by a T helper type 2 (Th2) immune response, based on Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated type 1 hypersensitivity reactions. Total IgE is the sum of all IgE types produced by the human body and is used as a biomarker of inflammation in asthma. We analysed data collected in 143 asthma cases (median age 42.1 years) from the general Italian population (GEIRD survey; 2008–2010) to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in candidate genes that are associated with total IgE in adult subjects with asthma. These patients reported respiratory symptoms in response to perennial allergens and provided data on 166 SNPs tagging 50 candidate genes or gene regions. Replication of the statistically significant results was performed in 842 asthma cases from other European countries (ECRHS II survey; 1998–2002). SNP rs549908 in interleukin 18 (IL18) gene was significantly associated with total IgE in GEIRD, and this result was replicated in ECRHS II. SNP rs1063320 in the human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) gene was identified in GEIRD, but this association was not replicated in ECRHS II. Further investigating IL18 and its biological pathways could be important for developing new therapeutic targets, due to its involvement in inflammatory response processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has suggested that Instagram is detrimental to one's body image and health, as a result of its image-driven nature and the social comparisons that are commonly made between users' bodies and the bodies they see portrayed. This study was designed to provide a better understanding of the effects of thin and fat body types portrayed in Instagram posts. This was done by examining how such body type portrayals influence attention to the posts, in addition to influencing outcomes such as body dissatisfaction and appearance management behavioral intentions. A total of 309 college students viewed 30 Instagram posts in an online experiment with a 2 (portrayed body type: thin vs. fat) X 15 (message repetition) within-subjects design. The findings indicate that thin-body portrayals increase audience self-reported attention to the posts and state body dissatisfaction, but female users who self-perceive themselves as fat report a similar level of attention to the posts regardless of portrayed body types. Additionally, Instagram use (defined as the number of photos users personally post) is found to moderate the effects of the body portrayals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM. To develop a methodology for the physical rehabilitation of elderly men with sarcopenia taking into account individual characteristics and somatotype. MATERIAL AND METHODS. A comprehensive anatomical-anthropological and instrumental (bioimpedance analysis) examination of 198 men aged 61 to 75 years (68±3.27 years) suffering from sarcopenia was carried out. The patients were divided into two groups depending on the method of physical rehabilitation. The duration of the rehabilitation programs was 12 weeks. The obtained results were compared with the indices of medical and biological state of 37 elderly men without sarcopenia signs (Group III). Somatotyping of all study participants was carried out according to the classification proposed by V.M. Chernorutsky. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. Normosthenic patients predominated (group I – 46%, group II – 47%, group III – 67%), astenics in groups I and II amounted to 27.5%, in group III – 25%. The number of hypersthenic in group III was 8%, that was 17% and 19% less than in groups I and II, respectively. After 12 weeks no significant differences between groups II and III in the main indices had been revealed. The body mass index of men of group I was 1.04 and 1.07 times lower than in groups II and III, respectively. The difference in carpal strength between groups I and III was 4.9±1.34 kg (15.41%; P 0.05). The complete absence of signs of disease was found in 29 patients (32.5%) in group II and in 16 patients (14.7%) in group I, thedifference between the groups being 17.9%. CONCLUSION. Sarcopenia is characteristic of hypersthenic males. Somatotyping is an accessible rapid diagnostic tool that allows us to identify groups of patients prone to sarcopenia.

A safe separation distance (SSD) needs to be considered during firefighting activities (fire suppression or people evacuation) against wildfires. The SSD is of critical interest for both humans and assets located in the wildland–urban interfaces (WUI). In most cases, the safety zone models and guidelines assume a flat terrain and only radiant heating. Nevertheless, injuries or damage do not result exclusively from radiant heating. Indeed, convection must be also considered as a significant contribution of heat transfer, particularly in the presence of the combined effects of sloping terrain and a high wind velocity. In this work, a critical case study is considered for the village of Sari-Solenzara in Corsica (France). This site location was selected by the operational staff since high-intensity fire spread is likely to occur in the WUI during wind-blown conditions. This study was carried out for 4 m high shrubland, a sloping terrain of 12° and a wind speed of 16.6 m/s. The numerical simulations were performed using a fully physical fire model, namely, FireStar2D, to investigate a case of fire spreading, which is thought to be representative of most high wildfire risk situations in Corsica. This study is based on the evaluation of the total (radiative and convective) heat flux received by two types of targets (human bodies and buildings) located ahead of the fire front. The results obtained revealed that the radiation was the dominant heat transfer mode in the evaluation of the SSD. In addition, the predictions were consistent with the criterion established by the operational experts, which assumes that in Corsica, a minimum SSD of 50 m is required to keep an equipped firefighter without injury in a fuelbreak named ZAL. This numerical work also provides correlations relating the total heat flux to the SSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While protein synthesis is vital for the majority of cell types of the human body, diversely differentiated cells require specific translation regulation. This suggests the specialization of translation machinery across tissues and organs. Using transcriptomic data from GTEx, FANTOM, and Gene Atlas, we systematically explored the abundance of transcripts encoding translation factors and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSases) in human tissues. We revised a few known and identified several novel translation-related genes exhibiting strict tissue-specific expression. The proteins they encode include eEF1A1, eEF1A2, PABPC1L, PABPC3, eIF1B, eIF4E1B, eIF4ENIF1, and eIF5AL1. Furthermore, our analysis revealed a pervasive tissue-specific relative abundance of translation machinery components (e.g., PABP and eRF3 paralogs, eIF2B and eIF3 subunits, eIF5MPs, and some ARSases), suggesting presumptive variance in the composition of translation initiation, elongation, and termination complexes. These conclusions were largely confirmed by the analysis of proteomic data. Finally, we paid attention to sexual dimorphism in the repertoire of translation factors encoded in sex chromosomes (eIF1A, eIF2γ, and DDX3), and identified the testis and brain as organs with the most diverged expression of translation-associated genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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To examine whether body type at birth, body weight, and obesity in early childhood are associated with overweight/obesity during school age and puberty. Data from maternal and child health handbooks, baby health checkup information, and school physical examination information of participants at birth and three-generation cohort studies were linked. Association between body type and body weight at different time intervals (at birth and at 1.5, 3.5, 6, 11, and 14 years of age) were comprehensively analyzed using a multivariate regression model adjusted for gender, maternal age at childbirth, maternal parity, and maternal body mass index, and drinking and smoking statuses at pregnancy confirmation. Children who are overweight in young childhood had a greater risk of being overweight. Particularly, overweight at one year of age during checkup was associated with overweight at 3.5 years (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 13.42; 95% confidence interval (CI), 4.46–45.42), 6 years (aOR, 6.94; 95% CI, 1.64–33.46), and 11 years (aOR, 5.22; 95% CI, 1.25–24.79) of age. Therefore, being overweight in young childhood could increase the risk of being overweight and obese during school age and puberty. Early intervention in young childhood may be warranted to prevent obesity during school age and puberty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: CRISPR/Cas9 editing systems are currently used to generate mutations in a particular gene to mimic a genetic disorder in vitro. Such "disease in a dish" models based on human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) offer the opportunity to have access to virtually all cell types of the human body. However, the generation of mutated hPSCs remains fastidious. Current CRISPR/Cas9 editing approaches lead to a mixed cell population containing simultaneously non-edited and a variety of edited cells. These edited hPSCs need therefore to be isolated through manual dilution cloning, which is time-consuming, labor intensive and tedious. Methods: Following CRISPR/Cas9 edition, we obtained a mixed cell population with various edited cells. We then used a semi-automated robotic platform to isolate single cell-derived clones. Results: We optimized CRISPR/Cas9 editing to knock out a representative gene and developed a semi-automated method for the clonal isolation of edited hPSCs. This method is faster and more reliable than current manual approaches. Conclusions: This novel method of hPSC clonal isolation will greatly improve and upscale the generation of edited hPSCs required for downstream applications including disease modeling and drug screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of study is a three-layer model of a damaged human body. In the course of the study, it was found that the generally accepted threelayer model of a damaged human body is built, in particular, on the assumption that the characteristics of dressings remain unchanged over time. Therefore, the vast majority of modern research in the field of passive radiometry requires the removal of such materials from the human body during the measurement or considers their characteristics to be unchanged and insignificant. Questions of a possible change in the results of measuring the radiation of the human body due to the use of plaster casts of varying degrees of humidity remain almost unexplored. As a result of the study, the mathematical three-layer model of the damaged human body was refined. An element was introduced into the model that describes the dependence of the attenuation of radio wave energy on the relative humidity of the plaster cast. The refined model makes it possible to increase the accuracy of measuring the temperature of the human body, taking into account the time of applying a plaster cast to it. Unlike the existing ones, the proposed model is based on an experimental study that simulates the measurement of the radiation of a human body with a plaster cast of different degrees of humidity. To refine the model, the obtained experimental data were processed by regression analysis methods. The results of processing the experimental data made it possible to establish the specific type and value of the coefficients of the desired dependence. The use of the obtained results of the study proves the possibility of remote non-invasive express diagnostics of the state of the human body in the presence of plaster-gauze bandages. Providing such an opportunity allows disaster medicine workers to increase the ability to fulfill the so-called “golden hour rule”, as well as to clarify the requirements for a medical radiothermal mapping system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to investigate differences in anthropometry, body composition (BC), and somatotype in young football players of the same chronological age according to the maturity stage. Overall, 64 elite players (age: 14.28 ± 0.46 years) were evaluated for standing and sitting body height, girth measures, and BC using the bioelectric impedance scale and skinfold thickness. In total, two-thirds (73.44%, n = 47) of football players were classified as on-time maturers, 12.50% (n = 8) were early maturing, and 14.06% (n = 9) were late maturing. Standing and sitting height, leg length, fat-free mass, and muscle mass were significantly different (p < 0.001) across maturity groups. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) with maturity progression was seen for subscapular and suprailiac skinfolds along with a girth increase at all sites (p < 0.05). Early maturers were balanced ectomorphs, while on-time and late maturers featured mesomorph–ectomorph characteristics. The obtained results suggested that mature players have better BC presented as a lower fat percentage along with higher muscle mass, advantages in circumferences, and longitudinal dimensions of the body with highlighted mesomorph features. Maturity can have a substantial influence on body measures, thereby affecting sport-specific performance. Early maturers can use their anthropometric advantages and compensate for a lack of talent, consequently preventing even participation of physically undeveloped players in training. A better understanding of maturity, BC, and somatotypes can help in the selection of young talented players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Investigating body shapes may offer novel insights into the role of adiposity and body size in breast cancer development. We derived three distinct body shapes from combinations of height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) by a principal component analysis. We then used genetic variants linked to these body shapes and investigated associations with breast cancer risk. A body shape characterizing general adiposity was associated with a lower breast cancer risk, however this is likely because the genetic variants predicting this body shape reflect body fatness during childhood and adolescence rather than during later adulthood. A body shape characterizing tall women with a low WHR was weakly associated with a higher breast cancer risk. A body shape characterizing tall women with a large WHR was not associated with breast cancer risk. These findings can spur wider application in cancer research and possibly risk stratification. Observational and genetic studies have linked different anthropometric traits to breast cancer (BC) risk, with inconsistent results. We aimed to investigate the association between body shape defined by a principal component (PC) analysis of anthropometric traits (body mass index [BMI], height, weight, waist-to-hip ratio [WHR], and waist and hip circumference) and overall BC risk and by tumor sub-type (luminal A, luminal B, HER2+, triple negative, and luminal B/HER2 negative). We performed two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses to assess the association between 188 genetic variants robustly linked to the first three PCs and BC (133,384 cases/113,789 controls from the Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC)). PC1 (general adiposity) was inversely associated with overall BC risk (0.89 per 1 SD [95% CI: 0.81–0.98]; p-value = 0.016). PC2 (tall women with low WHR) was weakly positively associated with overall BC risk (1.05 [95% CI: 0.98–1.12]; p-value = 0.135), but with a confidence interval including the null. PC3 (tall women with large WHR) was not associated with overall BC risk. Some of these associations differed by BC sub-types. For instance, PC2 was positively associated with a risk of luminal A BC sub-type (1.09 [95% CI: 1.01–1.18]; p-value = 0.02). To clarify the inverse association of PC1 with breast cancer risk, future studies should examine independent risk associations of this body shape during childhood/adolescence and adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of phenolic compounds on the human body depended on the type, content, bioavailability, and antioxidant activity. After digestion, different phenolic compounds had different changes of bioavailability and antioxidant activity, which needed to be considered in the application. In this experiment, the structural stability and antioxidant activity of 27 phenolic compounds (phenolic acids, flavonols, flavonoids, and flavanones) were investigated during the in vitro simulated digestion. This experiment eliminated the influence of food matrix, provide a basis for regularity for the changes of phenolic substances in different materials. Results showed that the bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds with different structures varied, and there was a conformational relationship between the structure and stability. After oral digestion, most of the phenolic compounds underwent degradation and the cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) values decreased to a large extent (p < 0.05). After gastric digestion, the content (p > 0.05) and CAA values (p < 0.05) of most phenolic compounds increased. However, after intestinal digestion, the phenolic compounds were degraded to a greater extent, and different structures of phenolic compounds had different changes in CAA values (p < 0.05). In general, the CAA values of most phenolic compounds after in vitro digestion were lower than the initial value. The 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′‐azino‐bis (3‐ehylbenzthiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values of phenolic acids and flavonols decreased after in vitro simulated digestion (p < 0.05), while the values of DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP of most flavonoids (p < 0.05) increased. The increased oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC) values were found in most phenolic acids, flavonols, and flavonoids (p < 0.05), and most flavanones showed unremarkable changes in ORAC values (p > 0.05). In general, the changing trend of chemical‐based antioxidant activity was consistent with the content of phenolic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is one of the most frequent types of malignancy in the human body with an increasing incidence. Short, non-coding RNA molecules called microRNAs (miRNAs) can control post-transcriptional gene expression and they have a significant role in several physiological cellular processes and pathologies, including cancer. Depending on the functions of the genes, miRNAs may function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. The aim of this paper was to describe the role of miRNA-34a and miRNA-221 in head and neck NMSC. Thirty-eight NMSC match paired (tumor and adjacent) tissue samples were evaluated by qRT-PCR. Total RNA was extracted and isolated from tissue samples using the phenol-chloroform (Trireagent) method according to the manufacturer's protocol. The concentration of RNA was measured by a NanoDrop-1000 spectrophotometer. The expression level of each miRNA was calculated by threshold cycle. For all statistical tests, the 0.05 significance level was used and two-tailed p values. All analyses were conducted in an R environment for statistical computing and graphics. We found the miRNA-221 being overexpressed in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (p < 0.05), basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and basosquamous cell carcinoma (BSC) compared with adjacent normal tissue. Additionally, the levels of miRNA-221 were two times higher (p < 0.05) in cases where the excision of the tumor was done with positive margins (R1), which means that we are the first to highlight the potential role of miRNA-221 in the microscopical local invasion. Mi-RNA-34a expression was altered in the malignant tissue compared with the adjacent normal one both in BCC and SCC but not statistically significantly. In conclusion, NMSC are challenging because of their increasing incidence and rapidly evolving development and discovering their molecular mechanisms of action lead us to understand tumorigenesis and evolution, while also contributing to the implementation of novel therapeutic keys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of clothing online shopping, customers have a higher demand for more accurate clothing size recommendation systems. The work this paper presented is compatible with the four body types specified in the Chinese standard. Then, the subdivision was performed where each of the major body types corresponded to four characteristic indices. In addition, each characteristic index had three attributes. Therefore, the female body can be subdivided into 81 types for each major type. Subsequently, this paper suggests an improved clothing size recommendation system that considers subdivided body types. The recommendation criteria in the approach were refined by a pressure distribution analysis through a virtual fitting simulation. Finally, case studies were conducted on customers of body type A (accounting for 52.73% of bodies) to demonstrate the procedures of the proposed approach. Practitioner summary: This study proposes an improved clothing size recommendation approach based on the subdivision of code-specified female body types. Compared with existing clothing size recommendations, the proposed approach can help customers find formfitting sizes more accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The constitution of a person determines their physical condition and the level of metabolism in the body. For this reason, the characteristic of a person's somatotype (body type) is important for assessing their health and is used to determine the norm of physical development. The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the features of circumference sizes in women of the Kyrgyz Republic with different body types and age groups. Methods: A total of 1028 healthy women aged 16–55 years living in the city of Osh and its suburbs were examined. Physical development was assessed using the method of complex anthropometry and somatotyping. Results: The mesosomal and megalosomal groups are more common in women of the third age category, while in the leptosomal group, the number of women of different age categories was approximately the same. In women aged 21–35 years old, the average value of the chest circumference index was 1.1 times greater than in girls aged 16–20 years old, the waist circumference was 1.1 times greater and the gluteal circumference was also more than 1.03 times greater. In women of the third age category, the above indicators increase by 1.09, 1.09 and 1.05 times, respectively, in comparison with girls from the first category. Conclusion: The analysis of somatotypes and circumference sizes of Kyrgyz women of different ages suggests that there is a relative dependence of the measured parameters on the age and constitution of the body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurons are the basic building blocks of the human body's neurological system. Atrophy is defined by the disintegration of the connections between cells that enable them to communicate. Peripheral neuropathy and demyelinating disorders, as well as cerebrovascular illnesses and central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory diseases, have all been linked to brain damage, including Parkinson's disease (PD). It turns out that these diseases have a direct impact on brain atrophy. However, it may take some time after the onset of one of these diseases for this atrophy to be clearly diagnosed. With the emergence of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there were several clinical observations of COVID-19 patients. Among those observations is that the virus can cause any of the diseases that can lead to brain atrophy. Here we shed light on the research that tracked the relationship of these diseases to the COVID-19 virus. The importance of this review is that it is the first to link the relationship between the Coronavirus and diseases that cause brain atrophy. It also indicates the indirect role of the virus in dystrophy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurological diseases (NDs) are one of the leading causes of disability and the second leading cause of death globally. Among these stroke, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD) are the most common NDs. A rise in the absolute number of individuals affected with these diseases indicates that the current treatment strategies in management and prevention of these debilitating diseases are not effective sufficiently. Therefore, novel treatment strategies are being explored to cure these diseases by addressing the causative mechanisms at the molecular level. Advanced therapies like gene therapy (gene editing and gene silencing) and stem cell therapies aim to cure diseases by gene editing, gene silencing and tissue regeneration, respectively. Gene editing results in the deletion of the aberrant gene or insertion of the corrected gene which can be executed using the CRISPR/Cas gene editing tool a promising treatment strategy being explored for many other prevalent diseases. Gene silencing using siRNA silences the gene by inhibiting protein translation, thereby silencing its expression. Stem cell therapy aims to regenerate damaged cells or tissues because of their ability to divide into any type of cell in the human body. Among these approaches, gene editing and gene silencing have currently been applied in vitro and to animal models, while stem cell therapy has reached the clinical trial stage for the treatment of NDs. The current status of these strategies suggests a promising outcome in their clinical translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research corresponds to a cross-sectional descriptive study in the anthropometric field, which allows coaches to develop standards to identify talent and optimize training in the discipline of beach volleyball. Its objective was to define the anthropometric profile and body composition of the Mexican Olympic beach volleyball teams in both sexes. The participants were couples one and two of Mexico in both sexes (defined by FIVB ranking), 4 women and 4 men with average age of 30.25±6.85 and 27.25±7.36 years. The technique used was Heath-Carter´s somatotype method and the anthropometric profile restricted ISAK protocol. Among the findings resulting from the research, unification can be observed in the male morphological characteristics (triceps skinfold, front thigh skinfold, calf skinfold, circumference of relaxed and contracted arm, waist, hip, femur diameter and BMI), as for the somatotype, both sexes of Mexican couples are positioned in mesomorphs-balanced. In relation to other studies consulted, balance in somatotype and muscular development is observed with high performance teams. Weight and height, as well as age, are important variables for the selection of talent and future optimal performance in world and professional volleyball. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The approach of the present study was to look for differences in body development in children practicing karate or judo. 50 children between the age of 7 and 16 years were measured for this study. Parnell's and Heath and Carter's somatotypes were used as well as the German constitution schools of Conrad as well and Knussmann. The influence on higher muscle development through practice of these martial arts cannot be denied, although no significant differences between the martial arts were found. Only with a version of Conrad's checkerboard pattern graph specially tailored for children, we could work out impressive differences between the sports. Differentiated according to age groups, it is noticeable that the male judoka make the most significant development from the hypoplastic area towards hyperplastic with increasing age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Kineanthropometry & Human Performance is the property of Brazilian Journal of Kineanthropometry & Human Performance and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this research, the problem of somatotypes will be treated components, body composition and anthropometric characteristics in volleyball players with different level of performance. Namely, the research will be aimed at assessing the somatotype of the selected volleyball players, their body composition, anthropometric characteristics, as well as their mutual relations followed through the different level of performance. The main problem of this research is the differences in anthropometric characteristics, body composition and somatotype components between senior and cadet volleyball players. The subject of this research is certain anthropometric characteristics and body components, as well as determining the somatotype of the studied volleyball players with varying levels of success. The sample of respondents is drawn from a population of volleyball players from the volleyball clubs: "Shkendija", volleyball club "Bamikor", volleyball club "TE Volley" and volleyball club "Ljuboten" all from Tetovo aged 18 to 31 years ± 6 months. In the research are included 64 female volleyball cadets aged 18 and 19 and 126 senior female volleyball players aged 20 to 31 years ± 6 months. A cross-sectional study was performed on the sample of respondents; the anthropometric, body and somatotype components in young volleyball players from this region of the Republic of North Macedonia. In this research, a total of 29 variables were applied, of which 18 were variables for assessment of anthropometric characteristics, 8 variables for assessment of the body composition and 3 variables for the assessment of somatotypicity in the chosen volleyball players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern computer-aided design (CAD) technology is widely used in the field of fashion design. Designers do not have to draw again every time they carry out template design, but can draw and change graphic design drawings directly on the computer using CAD technology. In this way, the designer can see the fitting effect of two-dimensional clothing on the three-dimensional human body in real time in the process of garment graphic design, and the three-dimensional fitting results can change in real time according to the change in two-dimensional clothing pieces. Then, the efficiency of garment design will be greatly improved, and the labor cost and resource time cost will be greatly reduced, and if the cloth of fitting can be highly simulated, the virtual fitting will have more real effect and higher value. Virtual clothing design has always played an important role in the clothing manufacturing industry. In recent years, there are more and more application scenarios of computer-aided design of clothing, and it has good engineering application value to study and realize a reasonable and efficient virtual sewing algorithm for clothing pieces. At home and abroad, the research on 3D clothing fitting technology has gradually deepened, and a series of research results have been achieved in the aspects of clothing piece modeling, clothing piece stitching, and collision detection. However, the traditional collision detection algorithm has an infinite loop in the establishment of the bounding box. At the same time, the time complexity of the collision detection algorithm is high. Based on the "personalized virtual clothing design system platform" independently developed by the research group, this study realizes the interactive design function of clothing pieces and researches and realizes the sewing and folding algorithm of clothing pieces. The clothing piece is triangulated, the generated triangular mesh is used to simulate clothing, finite element analysis is used to simulate the physical movement of clothing, and distance field technology is used to simulate the collision effect between the 3D human model and the clothing piece. To achieve the realistic folding effect of 3D virtual clothes, a seam folding algorithm is suggested, which puts extra bending force limits on patches near the seam, and it works well in the test environment. The stress state of the garment is recreated by assessing the internal and exterior pressures on the fabric. Second, using three-dimensional virtual stitching technology, the two-dimensional clothing is turned into a three-dimensional garment. Finally, the bounding box tree for the clothing and the human body is built. Finally, the bounding box detection algorithm detects and handles the collision between the fabric and the human body during sewing. Finally, texture mapping between fabric and bitmap is used to approximate the garment's true texture effect. Finally, by investigating the application process of wind force on the fabric, the dynamic impact of cloth under wind is simulated. At present, this technology can simulate the dressing effect of conventional clothing categories, and it can obtain ideal dynamic simulation effect of cloth under the condition of wind blowing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify the typical pattern of changes of vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) and explore the relationship between VEMPs and the anthropometry factors in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).Methods: Patients diagnosed as OSA after overnight polysomnography (PSG) tests were enrolled as the study group. Healthy volunteers were recruited as the control group. Anthropometry data of the body shape and VEMPs results were collected completely. The correlation analysis was conducted among those parameters.Results: Forty-nine patients with OSA who were diagnosed in the Therapy Center of Sleep-disordered Breathing in our hospital and sex- and age-matched healthy controls as well. Significant changes in ocular and cervical VEMPs (oVEMP and cVEMP) in the study group were observed, which were reduced response rates, elevated thresholds, decreased amplitudes, and prolonged first wave latencies. In oVEMP, the first wave (n1) latency was significantly correlated with weight, body mass index (BMI), neck circumference, waist circumference, hip circumference, and apnea hypopnea index (AHI). In a tentative application, combined use of BMI and oVEMP n1 latency increased the detection rate during OSA screening prior to PSG.Conclusion: OSA can negatively affect function of otolithic organs and their pathways. The first wave latency of the VEMPs waveform may be another important parameter to define peripheral nervous system lesions caused by systemic diseases as OSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the most abundant receptor type in the human body and are responsible for regulating many physiological processes, such as sensation, cognition, muscle contraction and metabolism. Further, GPCRs are widely expressed in the brain where their agonists make up a large number of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. Due to the importance of GPCRs in human physiology, genetically encoded sensors have been engineered to detect GPCR agonists at cellular resolution in vivo. These sensors can be placed into two main categories: those that offer real‐time information on the signalling dynamics of GPCR agonists and those that integrate the GPCR agonist signal into a permanent, quantifiable mark that can be used to detect GPCR agonist localisation in a large brain area. In this review, we discuss the various designs of real‐time and integration sensors, their advantages and limitations, and some in vivo applications. We also discuss the potential of using real‐time and integrator sensors together to identify neuronal circuits affected by endogenous GPCR agonists and perform detailed characterisations of the spatiotemporal dynamics of GPCR agonist release in those circuits. By using these sensors together, the overall knowledge of GPCR‐mediated signalling can be expanded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Spor Hekimligi Dergisi/Turkish Journal of Sports Medicine is the property of Turkish Journal of Sports Medicine / Spor Hekimleri Dernegi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Body composition assessment is a relevant element in the biomedical field, in research and daily practice in the medical and nutritional fields, and in the management of athletes. This paper aimed to operate in an Italian sample investigating the possibility of predicting the somatotype from bioimpedance analysis and comparing the predicted results with those obtained from anthropometric measurements. This observational study was conducted with retrospective data collected from 2827 subjects. The somatotype of each subject was calculated both with the Heath–Carter method and by a multiple regression model based on bioimpedance and anthropometric parameters. Somatotypes (endomorph, mesomorph, and ectomorph) were predicted with a high goodness of fit (R2 adjusted > 0.80). Two different somatocharts were obtained from anthropometric measures and bioimpedance parameters and subsequentially compared. Bland–Altman plots showed acceptable accuracy. This study could be a first step in developing a new approach that allows the detection of a subject's somatotype via bioimpedance analysis, stratified according to sex, with a time-saving and more standardized procedure. It would allow, for example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, to minimize operator–patient contact in having measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The composite textiles with radiative cooling, fire safety, and directional water transportation. • The high emissivity (96.8%) and high reflectivity (97.1%). • The peak heat release rate of composite fabric was reduced by 62.7%. • High white phytate flame retardant. Even though the huge potential in significantly decreasing the energy consumption for cooling buildings and the human body is presented by radiative cooling technology, there is still a long way to realize its real-commercial application, considering comprehensive performances, such as safety, comfort, longevity, and production cost. Inspired by the biological micro-nano structures of Cyphochilus, we develop a one-step, large-scale, and low commercial-cost method to prepare multifunctional composite textiles, with effective cooling, fire safety, and directional water transportation. The high emissivity (96.8 %) in the atmospheric window and high reflectivity (97.1 %) in the solar waveband are successfully achieved. When exposed to direct sunlight, composite textiles can achieve up to 5 °C below commercial textiles at a solar intensity of 750 W•m−2. Besides, the directional water transportation and the excellent mechanical strength further improve the practical application. This work proposes a radiatively cooled composite textile to achieve personal thermal management and fire protection to meet the needs of specialty garments such as firefighting suits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: We employed two classification methods that characterize psycho-somatotype categorization to understand motor and cognitive performance. The Trunk Index produces three somatotypes/body type categories: ectomorphs, mesomorphs, and endomorphs, and Prakriti classifications categorizes people into three categories: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Comparing these two categorization methods offers insights into anthropometric measures that combine psychological and physical characteristics to account for motor and cognitive behavior. Aims: The present study examined variations in cognitive and motor performances using the two typologies – prakriti and somato body types using cross-sectional study design. Subjects and Methods: The study employed fifty-eight healthy young adults, classified into prakriti (vata, pitta, kapha) and ecto-, meso-, endo- morph body types, to examine their cognitive performance (reaction time [RT] and accuracy), and motor performance (posture stability and posture accuracy) in standing yoga postures. Statistical Analysis Used: Analysis of covariance was performed to compare the cognitive and postural performance across the three somato and prakriti types after adjusting for age and gender as covariates. Post-hoc analysis of Bonferroni was performed with the consideration of Levene's test. Partial correlations were employed to investigate the correlation between postural stability and cognitive performance measures for each of the prakriti- and somato-body types as well as between the prakriti typology (scores) and trunk index values (adjusting the effects of age and gender as control variables). A P < 0.05 was selected at the statistical significance level. SPSS 26.0 version was used for the analysis. Results: Cognitive performance was observed to vary in terms of RT across somato- and prakriti body types (P < 0.05). Postural stability and cognitive performance are positively connected only for ectomorph body types (P < 0.05). Variations in motor performance were not significant. Barring ectomorph type, no other somato- and prakriti body types showed significant relationships between postural stability and cognitive performance. Likewise, the association between the features used for prakriti classification, and the trunk index scores showed marginal significance, only for a small subset of physical features of prakriti assessment (P = 0.055) (P1). Conclusions: Comparing classifications that use psychophysical attributes might offer insights into understanding variations in measures of motor and cognitive performance in a sample of healthy individuals.

Peritubular cells of the human testis form a small compartment surrounding the seminiferous tubules. They are crucial for sperm transport, and they emerge as contributors to the spermatogonial stem cell niche. They are among the least known cell types of the human body. We employed single-cell RNA sequencing of cultured human testicular peritubular cells (HTPCs), which had been isolated from testicular samples of donors with normal spermatogenesis. The significant overlap between our results and recently published ex vivo data indicates that HTPCs are a highly adequate cellular model to define and study these cells. Thus, based on the expression of several markers, HTPCs can be classified as testicular smooth muscle cells. Small differences between the in vivo/in vitro expressed genes may be due to cellular plasticity. Plasticity was also shown upon addition of FCS to the culture medium. Based on transcriptome similarities, four cellular states were identified. Further analyses confirmed the presence of known stem cell niche-relevant factors (e.g., GDNF) and identified unknown functions, e.g., the ability to produce retinoic acid. Therefore, HTPCs allow us to define the signature(s) and delineate the functions of human testicular peritubular cells. The data may also serve as a resource for future studies to better understand male (in)fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep learning has made great progress in many fields. One of the most important fields is the medical field, where we can classify images, detect objects and so on. More specifically, deep learning algorithms entered the field of single-cell classification and revolutionized this field, by classifying the components of the cell and identifying the location of the proteins in it. Due to the presence of large numbers of cells in the human body of different types and sizes, it was difficult to carry out analysis of cells and detection of components using traditional methods, which indicated a research gap that was filled with the introduction of deep learning in this field. We used the Human Atlas dataset which contains 87,224 images of single cells. We applied three novel deep learning algorithms, which are CSPNet, BoTNet, and ResNet. The results of the algorithms were promising in terms of accuracy: 95%, 93%, and 91%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Optimal performance of sports skills is due to the complex interaction of physiological, anthropometric, psychological and biomotor factors. The most important factors for success in various sports include bodybuilding, tactical, technical skills, mental abilities and athletes' experience (2). The performance of elite athletes who are active in various sports can be generally attributed to two factors: one is related to the level of training of these athletes and the adaptations made by them, and the other is related to genetic factors and the potential talents are the individual. Among these, their individual (genetic) characteristics can be partially identified by examining anthropometric characteristics and functional adaptations resulting from exercise using functional tests. Sports coaches, on the other hand, are always looking for ways to bring athletes to the highest levels of athletic performance(3). Sports experts and coaches have acknowledged that optimal performance depends on a number of factors, including physical, psychological, and skill factors. Anthropometric characteristics and physical condition, although they may be only part of the factors influencing sports activities, but it is important for coaches to identify these characteristics and be able to understand its value in their athletes (4). However, due to little research in the field of improving selected biomechanical variables in adolescent athletics and also the lack of research on the effect of physical characteristics on the effectiveness of training and the lack of research on combined training on performance and performance factors of adolescent athletes, conduct research The present is necessary and it is hoped that this research can take an effective and small step to reduce the research gaps in the field of athletics as an Olympic-oriented sport. Therefore, the present study seeks to answer the main question whether eight weeks of combined training (plyometric and resistance) have a significant effect on selected biomechanical variables (flexibility, balance, power and speed) of ectomorphic and mesomorphic runners? Methods: The method of the present study was quasi-experimental and was done with pre)test, post-test and control group. The statistical population of the study consisted of adolescent athletes aged 12 to 17 years. The sample consisted of 15 ectomorphic adolescents, 15 mesomorphic adolescents and 15 adolescents as a control group who participated in the adolescent training of active teams in Tehran province leagues and were purposefully invited to participate as a statistical sample. In this study, the training program consisted of 8 weeks of specific training for each of the experimental groups that performed combined exercises for 8 weeks. The Sargent test was used to evaluate the power, the 30 m sprint test was used to evaluate the speed, the Star Test Equilibrium test (SEBT) was used to evaluate the dynamic balance, and the Flex board test was used to evaluate the flexibility. In this study, the training program included 8 weeks of specific training for each group as follows. The control group performed normal exercises with evidence, and the experimental groups performed selected plyometric or resistance exercises for 30 minutes, including 10 minutes of warm-up, and 20 minutes of special exercises. Also, the selected resistance training program was in three periods with 12 repetitions in each period, during which the subjects performed the mentioned exercises with 60% of maximum strength. To increase the speed or speed of movement, a training load with a weight of about 60-30 should be Percentage of the athlete's maximum strength. One minute between periods and two minutes between stations, active rest (flexibility and stretching movements) was considered and included the following movements: foot press, knee extension, knee flexion, lifting on the toe with weights, squats and lifting the pair was performed with weights (15). The subjects then performed plyometric exercises for 30 minutes. The selected plyometric exercise program was designed based on the principle of overload and each movement was performed in three fixed repetitive winds in each period in all weeks, between each stage. A minute of rest was considered. The exercises offered included speed jump with one and two legs, jumping from a squat position, bending the knee with a jump, jumping with the open leg forward, scissor jumping, and so on To analyze the data along with descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation, etc.), regression test, and analysis of covariance and Bonferroni post hoc test in SPSS software version 24 were used. Results: Covariance test showed that the value of F related to covariance in all four research variables was not statistically significant (P≤0.05), on the other hand, the value of F related to the group in all four variables of research was statistically significant (P≥0.05).That is, after removing the pre-test effect, there is a significant difference between the mean scores of the two groups in the post-test of selected biomechanical variables in the ectomorphic group, so eight weeks of combined training on selected biomechanical variables (flexibility, balance, power and speed) Ectomorphic work is impressive. The covariance test in Table 3 showed that the value of F related to covariance in all four research variables was not statistically significant (P≤0.05), on the other hand, the value of F related to the group in all four variables of research was statistically significant (P≥0.05). is significant. That is, after removing the pre)test effect, there is a significant difference between the mean scores of the two groups in the post-test of selected biomechanical variables in the ectomorphic group; Therefore, the null hypothesis that the mean difference between the two groups in the post-test is not significant is rejected after eliminating the possible effect of the pre-test. Therefore, eight weeks of combined training affects the selected biomechanical variables (flexibility, balance, power and speed) of Mesomorphic runners. By comparing the effect sizes (ETA coefficient) in both ectomorphic and mesomorphic hands, it is found that the ectomorphic measurements have better performance in all four biomechanical variables. The results of the present study showed that eight weeks of combined training (plyometric and resistance) had a significant effect on selected biomechanical variables (flexibility, balance, power and speed) of ectomorphic and mesomorphic athletics boys. These exercises also have a greater effect on selected biomechanical variables of ectomorphic boys than in mesomorphic athletes. Conclusion: In this regard, it can be said that combined training improves muscle weakness and deficiency in ectomorphs in two ways, which first causes muscle hypertrophy through resistance training and as a result, plyometric training increases muscle well-being. However, mesomorphs have reached their optimal physical level due to adequate muscle volume and may require higher training volume and pressure to increase capabilities, so it can be concluded that the combination exercises used in the present study are suitable for ectomorphic individuals, but individuals Mesomorphs need more pressure and a higher volume of training to improve their physical performance, and this issue can be considered in the design of training and future research on this issue. Use combined exercises in athlete training programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large number of published studies have established the somatotype characteristics of athletes from different sports. The research goal is to establish and compare the anthropometric characteristics, body composition, and somatotype components of Kosovo's young elite athletes. The research was conducted on 255 young athletes aged 18, divided into 92 footballers, 83 basket players, and 80 handball players. The obtained results show numerous relations and differences between the tested young athletes. The research results suggest that footballers are shorter and lighter than basketball and handball players; have lower BMI than handball players. Handball players are shorter than basketball players, and have greater BMI than basketball players and footballers. Footballers, compared to handball players have a greater bone-component and less fat-component percentage. Basketball players possess greater bone-component percentage values than handball players. Footballers have a dominant mesomorph component. Their somatotype category is balanced mesomorph. Handball players are established to have a common mesomorph athletic type with a characteristic skeleton's longitudinal dimension. The ectomorph body type is dominant in basketball players - a mesomorph-body type with a characteristic skeleton's longitudinal dimension and balanced correlation between the bone and muscle tissue. Therefore, these findings may give coaches from the region better working knowledge and suggest to them to follow recent selection process methods and be more diligent during the process of talent scouting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red blood cells (RBCs) are the most abundant cell type in the human body and critical suppliers of oxygen. The cells are characterized by a simple structure with no internal organelles. Their two-layered outer shell is composed of a cytoplasmic membrane (RBCcm) tethered to a spectrin cytoskeleton allowing the cell to be both flexible yet resistant against shear stress. These mechanical properties are intrinsically linked to the molecular composition and organization of their shell. The cytoplasmic membrane is expected to dominate the elastic behavior on small, nanometer length scales, which are most relevant for cellular processes that take place between the fibrils of the cytoskeleton. Several pathologies have been linked to structural and compositional changes within the RBCcm and the cell’s mechanical properties. We review current findings in terms of RBC lipidomics, lipid organization and elastic properties with a focus on biophysical techniques, such as X-ray and neutron scattering, and Molecular Dynamics simulations, and their biological relevance. In our current understanding, the RBCcm’s structure is patchy, with nanometer sized liquid ordered and disordered lipid, and peptide domains. At the same time, it is surprisingly soft, with bending rigidities κ of 2–4 kBT. This is in strong contrast to the current belief that a high concentration of cholesterol results in stiff membranes. This extreme softness is likely the result of an interaction between polyunsaturated lipids and cholesterol, which may also occur in other biological membranes. There is strong evidence in the literature that there is no length scale dependence of κ of whole RBCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: A Body Shape Index (ABSI) has been reported to have associations with cardiovascular risk factors. However, there is no information on the association between ABSI and incidence of cardiovascular events., Methods: We investigated the associations between ABSI and first major cardiovascular events (death from cardiovascular disease, nonfatal acute coronary syndrome, and nonfatal stroke) in 1857 subjects from the database of Flow-Mediated Dilation Japan registry and from Hiroshima University Vascular Function registry., Results: The areas under the curves of ABSI to predict the first major cardiovascular events were superior to BMI (men: P = .032, women: P = .015) and waist circumference in women (men: P = .078, women: P = .002). The subjects were divided into 2 groups based on the cutoff value of ABSI for predicting first major cardiovascular events: a low ABSI group (<0.0822 in men and <0.0814 in women) and a high ABSI group (≥0.0822 in men and ≥0.0814 in women). During a median follow-up period of 41.6 months, 56 subjects died (23 from cardiovascular causes), 16 had nonfatal acute coronary syndrome, and 14 had nonfatal stroke. The Kaplan-Meier curves for first major cardiovascular events were significantly different between the 2 groups (men, P < .001; women, P < .001). Multivariate analysis revealed that high ABSI remained an independent predictor of first major cardiovascular events (men: hazard ratio, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.07 to 5.06; P = .033; women: hazard ratio, 8.33; 95% CI, 1.06 to 65.49; P = .044)., Conclusion: High ABSI is independently associated with incidence of cardiovascular events. ABSI calculation should be performed for evaluation of risk of cardiovascular events., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Purpose: Anthropometric parameters related with the periocular region (PR) have gained great importance with the optical technology used in the treatment of eye defects. They have also become important parameters that determine the limits of treatment in aesthetic surgery procedures in PR and the treatment of orbital diseases. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of PR measurements with somatotype., Methods: Somatotypes were determined by using the Heath-Carter method. Ten indirect anthropometric measurements, namely nasal root (mf-mf), outer chantal distance (ex-ex), inner chantal distance (en-en), interpupillary distance (p-p), right and left palpebral fissure width (ex-en), palpebral fissure height (ps-pi), and orbital height (os-oi), were taken from PR with Image J program. Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to compare data with each other. Post-hoc Mann-Whitney U test was used to find out which group caused statistically significant differences according to the results of the Kruskal-Wallis H test., Results: A statistically significant difference was found between some indirect anthropometric measurements taken from PR and somatotypes (P < 0,05). This difference was found to result from central group somatotype, in which no somatotype component has different effects from another one, for both genders. In almost all of the indirect anthropometric measurements, it was found that balanced ectomorph somatotypes reached the highest median values, while central group somatotypes had the lowest median values., Conclusion: As a result of this study, somatotype affects the appearance of PR. It will be possible to obtain more accurate and reliable results in aesthetic surgery interventions and identification studies. Our study is the first and a pioneer in its field in the literature. It will inspire and guide future researchers, surgeons, anthropologists, and forensic doctors who will work in this field., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 Indian Journal of Ophthalmology.)