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In this work, the authors present instantaneous local dose rates from particles of plutonium-239 oxide (239PuO) embedded in various regions of the respiratory tract. For comparison, a small number of simulations were performed in a representative region of the respiratory tract with other chemical compounds including pure metallic 239Pu, 239PuO2, 239PuO3, 239Pu2O3, and 239Pu(NO3)4. A small number of simulations were also performed with 238PuO, weapons grade Pu, and Pu from a typical radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) source for the same reason. The self-shielding effect is minor for very small particles but gradually becomes more significant as the particle size increases. For particles that are 0.1 μm and larger (excluding Pu nitrate), the calculated dose rate within several microns of the particle may be sufficient to damage lung cells, but the implications of damage to such a small volume of tissue are unclear. However, it is reasonable to assume that clinical effects will be observed if a large enough volume of tissue is damaged, as might happen when large numbers of particles are inhaled. The instantaneous dose rate around a particle may be predictive of deterministic effects, scar tissue formation, and biokinetics.

L-plastin (LPL) was identified as a potential regulator of the actin-bundling process involved in forming nascent sealing zones (NSZs), which are precursor zones for mature sealing zones. TAT-fused cell-penetrating small molecular weight LPL peptide (TAT- MARGSVSDEE, denoted as an inhibitory LPL peptide) attenuated the formation of NSZs and impaired bone resorption in vitro in osteoclasts. Also, the genetic deletion of LPL in mice demonstrated decreased eroded perimeters and increased trabecular bone density. In the present study, we hypothesized that targeting LPL with the inhibitory LPL peptide in vivo could reduce osteoclast function and increase bone density in a mice model of low bone mass. We injected aging C57BL/6 female mice (36 weeks old) subcutaneously with the inhibitory and scrambled peptides of LPL for 14 weeks. Micro-CT and histomorphometry analyses demonstrated an increase in trabecular bone density of femoral and tibial bones with no change in cortical thickness in mice injected with the inhibitory LPL peptide. A reduction in the serum levels of CTX-1 peptide suggests that the increase in bone density is associated with a decrease in osteoclast function. No changes in bone formation rate and mineral apposition rate, and the serum levels of P1NP indicate that the inhibitory LPL peptide does not affect osteoblast function. Our study shows that the inhibitory LPL peptide can block osteoclast function without impairing the function of osteoblasts. LPL peptide could be developed as a prospective therapeutic agent to treat osteoporosis.

Changes in the vegetation of Brazilian Cerrado may occur over time. However, long-term dynamics are not fully understood yet, especially woody plant encroachment (WPE). The objective of this study was to examine changes in vegetation structure in a preserved area in Triângulo Mineiro region, within the southern Brazilian Cerrado domain, over 32 years (1987, 2005, and 2019). We based the study on field and literature surveys, as well as satellite imagery, and hypothesized that, due to the absence of periodic fires or grazing, Cerrado open formations (i.e., grassland or savanna) tend to become denser due to WPE. Shrubby grassland cover assessed in 1987 disappeared in the following periods (from 30.0 % to 0.0 % in 2019) while forest formations increased (from 7.0 % in 1987 to 11.0 % in 2019). Changes between 2005 and 2019 occurred within the stricto sensu cerrado subdivisions, with reduction of sparse cerrado (from 34.2 % to 7.7 %) and an increase in dense cerrado (from 6.9 % to 39.8 %). Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) applied for similar periods indicates a progressive increase of values over time (from 1986 (0.61±0.10) to 2004 (0.65±0.06) and 2018 (0.78±0.05)) and corroborates the WPE process. These patterns imply the loss of biodiversity in open plant formation. Another major consequence was the reduction of wetlands and possible impact on water supply. Such patterns are important to support plant management plans for the threatened Cerrado open plant formations.

The aim of this study was to examine the validity of a Japanese version of the physical activity (PA) question of the Patient-Centered Assessment and Counseling for Exercise Plus Nutrition (PACE+), which is globally used to assess compliance with the WHO PA recommendation for youth. Analyses included 80 Japanese upper elementary students and 44 Japanese junior high students. Consistency of the classification of achieving/not achieving the PA recommendation between the two methods (PACE+ and ActiGraph accelerometry) was assessed by calculating percentage agreement rate, sensitivity, and specificity. Spearman rank correlation (𝜌) was applied to assess the correlation between the two methods. The percentage agreement in upper elementary students and junior high students was 83.8% and 65.9%, respectively. While the sensitivity and specificity of the scale in assessing the compliance of upper elementary students with PA recommendation were 8.3% and 97.1%, respectively, and for junior high school students 42.9% and 76.7%, respectively. The correlation coefficients between PACE+ and accelerometry for elementary and junior high school students were 0.13 and 0.50, respectively. The validity of PACE+ among Japanese adolescents was confirmed similarly to previous studies conducted in other countries. However, it should be viewed with caution that PACE+ may underestimate the proportion of children achieving PA recommendations.

A set of mathematical models for resistance training (RT model) with repeated dynamic and voluntary activations of knee extensor muscles was proposed and validated. RT model predicts muscle activity, fatigue and recovery, and can be used to predict the mechanical impulses identified in different muscle fiber types. Several resistance training program variables (e.g. load, velocity, number of sets, and duration of rest intervals) were addressed in this study. Experimental data from six subjects were taken under several different training protocols. For the protocols studied, the model precisely predicted the maximum number of repetitions during knee extension resistance exercise (R2 = 0.87). This study demonstrates the applicability of the first simple mathematical model for voluntary dynamic exercise of knee extensor muscles. The developed model calculates the mechanical impulse of fast twitch fiber for the selected protocols. For instance, the model shows high intensity training tends to induce more fast-twitch fiber recruitment than that in low intensity training in the case of non-failure. This model is expected to help in understanding how impulses of different fiber types contribute and affect training.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of incline on neuromuscular mechanisms in uphill sprint running. Nine male college sprinters performed 5-sec constant speed running trials on a motorized treadmill at 7.5 m/s. Each trial was conducted under different inclined conditions (level and 5.0% grade). Surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded from 6 muscles of the lower limbs, including gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, and lateral gastrocnemius lateralis. We found higher muscle activity in all muscles during the stance phase in uphill sprinting except for rectus femoris and vastus lateralis. Higher muscle activation during the recovery phase was found in the rectus femoris muscle in uphill sprinting. These muscle activity adaptations in uphill sprinting were paralleled by higher step frequency and shorter step length. Our results suggest that lower limb muscle activity can meaningfully adapt to sprint-specific demand in uphill running.

The family of two-pore domain potassium (K2P) channels is critically involved in central cellular functions such as ion homeostasis, cell development, and excitability. K2P channels are widely expressed in different human cell types and organs. It is therefore not surprising that aberrant expression and function of K2P channels are related to a spectrum of human diseases, including cancer, autoimmune, CNS, cardiovascular, and urinary tract disorders. Despite homologies in structure, expression, and stimulus, the functional diversity of K2P channels leads to heterogeneous influences on human diseases. The role of individual K2P channels in different disorders depends on expression patterns and modulation in cellular functions. However, an imbalance of potassium homeostasis and action potentials contributes to most disease pathologies. In this review, we provide an overview of current knowledge on the role of K2P channels in human diseases. We look at altered channel expression and function, the potential underlying molecular mechanisms, and prospective research directions in the field of K2P channels.

This study aims to clarify oxygen uptake (VO2) and heart rate (HR) kinetics of body mass-based squat exercise (SQBM) with relation to age. Fourteen healthy adults and 19 healthy children performed SQBM 200 times as well as an incremental loaded bicycle test to determine maximal VO2 and HR. The VO2 and HR during SQBM were normalized to maximal VO2 (%VO2peak) and HR (%HRmax), respectively. Electromyograms (EMGs) were recorded from the vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, vastus medialis and biceps femoris muscles from the right leg. In the VO2 and HR during SQBM, the time constant in children was faster than adults, whereas the physiological load (%VO2peak and %HRmax) was almost the same between children and adults. In both groups, %VO2peak was significantly related to %HRmax during SQBM. The slope of the %VO2peak-%HRmax relationship was 0.92 for children, and 0.73 for adults. The current results demonstrate that, compared to adults, the rise in VO2 and HR after initiation of SQBM is faster in children, and the physiological load during SQBM partially depends on individual maximal aerobic capacity.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Arginine vasopressin (AVP) neurons play an important role for sensing a change in the plasma osmolarity and thereby responding with regulated AVP secretion in order to maintain the body fluid homeostasis. The osmo-sensing processes in magnocellular neurosecretory cells (MNCs) including AVP and oxytocin (OXT) neurons of the hypothalamus were reported to be coupled to sustained osmotic shrinkage or swelling without exhibiting discernible cell volume regulation. Since increasing evidence has shown some important differences in properties between AVP and OXT neurons, osmotic volume responses are to be reexamined with distinguishing these cell types from each other. We previously reported that AVP neurons identified by transgenic expression of enhanced green fluorescence protein (eGFP) possess the ability of regulatory volume decrease (RVD) after hypoosmotic cell swelling. Thus, in the present study, we examined the ability of regulatory volume increase (RVI) after hyperosmotic cell shrinkage in AVP neurons. METHODS: Here, we used eGFP-identified AVP neurons acutely dissociated from AVP-eGFP transgenic rats. We performed single-cell size measurements, cytosolic RT-PCR analysis, AVP secretion measurements, and patch-clamp studies. RESULTS: The AVP neurons were found to respond to a hyperosmotic challenge with physiological cell shrinkage caused by massive secretion of AVP, called a secretory volume decrease (SVD), superimposed onto physical osmotic cell shrinkage, and also to exhibit the ability of RVI coping with osmotic and secretory cell shrinkage. Furthermore, our pharmacological and molecular examinations indicated that AVP secretion and its associated SVD event are triggered by activation of T-type Ca2+ channels, and the RVI event is attained by parallel operation of Na+/H+ exchanger and Cl-/HCO3- anion exchanger. CONCLUSION: Thus, it is concluded that AVP neurons respond to hyperosmotic stimulation with the regulatory volume increase and the secretory volume increase by activating ion transporters and Ca2+ channels, respectively.

Several recent studies reported that a lack of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in combination with a high degree of sedentary behavior (SB) is associated with health problems including overweight and obesity in children, as well as psychosocial stress. Therefore, it is important that methods are developed to objectively evaluate both MVPA and SB. The aim of this study was to redevelop the existing equation for estimating SB to improve its accuracy. Healthy boys (n = 42) and girls (n = 26) attending primary school were invited to participate in this study. Participants were asked to perform 2 SB tasks, which were desk work and Nintendo DS, 2 light intensity activities such as sweeping up and clearing away, and higher intensity activities such as sweeping up and throwing a ball, with a few minutes of recovery time between tasks. The tasks and activities were performed in order of PA intensity (lower to higher). All participants wore a triaxial accelerometer on their waist. In addition, they wore a facemask connected to a Douglas bag to gather respiratory gas samples while performing each activity. First, we proposed the two linear regression equations (TL), including an equation for SB, and another equation for light or higher intensity activities with a fixed intercept of 0.9. Moreover, we redeveloped a quadratic polynomial (QP) equation that takes into account all activities. Both models were demonstrated to improve the accuracy of estimations of PA (about 0.2 to 0.3 METs), including SB (about 1.0 METs) other than sweeping up and wiping floor, compared to the existing model.

The research Problem was training of trainers in depending on the errors of the skill full Performance of The swimmer in the simple steps o slep-observation and their decision de Ponds on their se self-evaluation which is fraught with some of the shortcomings and to the speed of mal movement and the multiple stages and variables the tow researchers find used during on experiment done for one of the swimmers with tow different cameras A- using normal camera (25 pictare / sec ) B- using high speed camera (240 Pictare /sec) the research’s concluded that errors were more and obvious using camera (b) than (a) . The researchers found it necessary to use then in judging the level of technical per for manse of Photography and I biomechanical analysis and identify technical errors in Performance. Also use these 3 cameras with high speed correction Performance as a Feedback to help the trainer and swimmer to correct the errors and in record time. The research’s aims to dis cover the values of some biochemematic variables affecting the technical errors with high speed cameras. and correction technical errors with feedback with using high speed content I cameras, in this ! in this assumed that feedback using i high speed cameras have a positive s effect on technical performance of the star block swimming. the researcher used the experimental method for its suitability to the nature of the research Problem using the experimental designed which is designed a for the designee of the tow test of Pre and post-test. the sample of the research with (6) swimmers. The researchers used & questionnaire I Measurement , scientific and technical observation, and Kinematic I analisis a means of data collection to obtain search variable . The researcher depends on the It statistical means (arithmetic mean, Standard deviation and (T test) for the associated samples. The researchers concluded that the delayed Post-feed bach effect had a good effect on the variable of angular velocity of the body of the hind leg, and feedback has had a good effect on horizontal distances vertical distance, distance obtained in the descending Phase post delayed feedback influenced well the horizontal distance from Platform to the water entry point in the complete motion variable.

Waite-Periods is a rehabilitation periods in sports training science, but in competitions, Waite-Periods between attempts depend on the number of players involved and the legal time available to perform the event, and this period may be lengthened or shortened based on the number of participants as well as other topics such as the arrangement of tools, for example. During Waite-Periods player can exposed to psychological and physical fitness. It can be summarized by the problem that our lack of appropriate assessment of the mandatory Waite-Periods between attempts that were not taken into consideration could be an appropriate reason when training players in developing their achievement. The research aims to identify the time taken for Waite-Periods in the activities of long jump and triple jump for males and females, and the relation between some kinematic variables and achievement according to the Waite-Periods. The research hypotheses is, there is an inverse relation between the speed of the approaching and the length of Waite-Periods and achievement between one attempt and another in the activities of long jump and triple jump for males and females. The research sample consisted of the recorded numbers of male and female participants in the long jump and triple jump events at the 2009 Berlin Track and Field Games. If the successful attempts, whose times are monitored from the documentation of the attempted start times for each player in the long jump, (15) attempts for males and (12) attempts for females, in the triple jump, (16) Male attempt and (19) female attempt. The Waite-Periods calculated between the attempt and next attempt of the player. The least time to Waite-Periods in the long jump between the attempts of the player, (male and female) ranged (10.37min. - 11.30min.). As for the biggest Waite-Periods between the attempted player (male and female) ranged (18.30min. - 21.04min.), it is noted that the Waite-Periods for males is higher than the female to average. As for the triple jump, it turns out that the minimum Waite-Periods between the attempts of the player (male and female) ranged (9.67min. - 14.20min.). As for the largest Waite-Periods between the attempted player (male and female) ranged (18.61min. - 19.34min.), it is noted that the Waite-Periods for the male is higher than the female to average. The following was concluded: There are large Waite-Periods that may reach more than (20 min) for the next attempt of the player himself The difference in achievement between one attempt and another is not related to the Waite-Periods for the next attempt, as the achievement may decrease or increase. The length of the Waite-Periods reversely affects the approach speed whenever we approach (11m. – 6m.), before the approaching plate for long jump in males. The length of the Waite-Periods reversely affects the speed of approach whenever we get close to (6m, - 1m.) before the approach plate for triple jump in males. In some individual cases, the Waite-Periods had a negative effect on achievement, at a rate of (61%) of the cases.

The developing the energies of the Scout leaders in the scientific and practical life will be by perform' their works that they are assigned with more care, accuracy, and speed, take more attention honor and honesty and fairness and keep in their minds the strengthening of their bodies self-reliance and instilling the concept of cooperation with their colleagues and familiarize them to serve their local, Arabic, and global societies. The syllable, which aims to enable the individual, involved in the activities of the Scout movement to gain cognitive and emotional qualities and skills that qualify him to achieve his overall growth. The problem of researchers identified the lack of syllabus of the wood badae curriculum and the level of the wooden emblem curriculum of the Scout leaders in Iraq according to this type The aim of the research was to build an assessment of the wooden badge curriculum of the Scout leaders in Iraq, to identify their level of scale and to identify their level based on type, whether they have a difference between them. The researchers used the descriptive approach in the survey method, for itssuitabirty to the native of the stady. The research community had included leaders holders of a wooden badge in Iraq (468) are leaders and commanders deployed in the directorates of education in the governorates of Iraq. The population of research was (406) and it was selected as a leader and 247 male and female leaders of the research community, including 15 male and female leaders of the scale reconnaissance experiment and (232) form to construct. The assessment is in terms of the application sample was (159) leaders, (97) males (62) and females. The study concluded that the level of the wooden medal curriculum among male leaders (very high) while the level of the curriculum in females is (high) indicating that the level of the curriculum of the wooden emblem of males is higher than female. The two researchers recommended the reliance on the current assessment, which was built by the two researchers to detect the level of the wooden badge curriculum based on the type and to conduct a similar study in order to identify the relationship between the wooden medal curriculum and the academic achievement.

Despite advances in diagnostics and therapy of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the problem of prognosis and prevention of tumor progression is still highly important. Even if NSCLC is diagnosed in the early stages, almost a quarter of patients develop relapse; most of them die from recurrent disease. A large number of different markers have been proposed to predict the risk of NSCLC progression; however, none of them are used in clinical practice. It is obvious that this situation is related to the economic and methodological complexity of the proposed markers and/or their insufficient efficiency due to a lack of effective study models and tumor heterogeneity. Another reason may be that potential markers are developed for NSCLC progression in general, which is represented by at least four pathogenetically-distinct processes: synchronous lymph node metastasis, local, regional, and distant recurrence. In this review, we summarize data from published literature on clinicopathological, genetic, and molecular factors associated with different types of NSCLC progression and emphasize challenges and approaches to developing prognostic factors. In conclusion, we highlight the importance of further studies to reveal molecular mechanisms of NSCLC progression and the need for differential analysis of markers of local, regional, and distant recurrences for disease prognosis.

The police are the backbone of protecting Iraq from the inside, and its fortified shield and its trustworthy guard provides men and money to protect its land from the inside. You find it in peace. It helps the citizen with natural disasters, forums and events. Mental health and physical fitness are the basic components of police workers and are considered as an important elements to maintain the policeman’s health and physical competence so that he can perform his field duty to the fullest, as it provides him with safety, ability to act, speed of movement and endurance, especially under conditions that require hard or continuous work, whether in the field. Military or offices. Therefore, the research problem lies in the study of mental health and its relationship to the physical performance of police academy The study aimed to: 1- Identify the mental health values ​​of the research sample. 2- Knowing the values ​​of activity and physical performance of the research sample. 3- Identify the relationship between mental health and physical performance in the research sample. The researchers assumed the existence of a significant correlation between mental health and physical performance in the research sample. The researchers used the descriptive approach to suit the nature of the problem and the objectives of the research. The research sample was chosen randomly, represented by students of the Police Academy in Al-Muthanna Governorate, whose number is (50) students out of 250 students, so their percentage from the community = (20%). The two researchers used the tests (endurance of arms strength - transition velocity - endurance test) and the mental health scale, as the translated and codified mental health scale was approved by Abdulaziz Musa from Al-Quds University, which contains 90 paragraphs and its keys are five-pointed (Likred scale) with the highest value The scale has 450 degrees and the lowest value of the scale is 90 degrees, noting that the scale has degrees of validity, stability and objectivity, and the scale keys are (Always - often - sometimes - rarely - never) The two researchers conducted the tests with the help of the working team over two days: The first day: A mental health scale was distributed and a speed and strength test was conducted. The second day was an endurance test. After collecting the data and treating them statistically, the researchers concluded 1- The research sample enjoys good mental health. 2- There is a correlation between mental health and physical performance. So the researchers recommend 1- Paying attention to mental health with its direct impact on physical fitness. 2- Conducting similar studies on other physical and motor abilities. 3- Preparing concepts to improve mental health, as it is one of the important factors for physical numbers.

Mechanobiological stimuli, such as low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), have been shown to promote bone regeneration and fresh fracture repair, but the fundamental biophysical mechanisms involved remain elusive. Here, we propose that a mechanosensitive ion channel of Piezo1 plays a pivotal role in the noninvasive ultrasound-induced mechanical transduction pathway to trigger downstream cellular signal processes. This study aims to investigate the expression and role of Piezo1 in MC3T3-E1 cells after LIPUS treatment. Immunofluorescence analysis shows that Piezo1 was present on MC3T3-E1 cells and could be ablated by shRNA transfection. MC3T3-E1 cell migration and proliferation were significantly increased by LIPUS stimulation, and knockdown of Piezo1 restricted the increase in cell migration and proliferation. After labeling with Fluo-8, MC3T3-E1 cells exhibited fluorescence intensity traces with several high peaks compared with the baseline during LIPUS stimulation. No obvious change in the fluorescence intensity tendency was observed after LIPUS stimulation in shRNA-Piezo1 cells, which was similar to the results in the GsMTx4-treated group. The phosphorylation ratio of ERK1/2 in MC3T3-E1 cells was significantly increased (P 2+ serves as a second messenger to activate ERK1/2 phosphorylation and perinuclear F-actin filament polymerization, which regulate the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells.

The presence of special tests to measure the variables is an important and vital work that develops the scout in terms of scouting skills. Therefore, the importance of the research lies in finding means that have the scientific basis to measure an important aspect of the scout movement, which is the scouting side, as well as helping the scout leaders in choosing scouts to represent the scout teams correctly, and also can determine the current skill ability of the scout and what it will become in the future. The advanced scout stage was chosen because their ages are appropriate and at this stage they learned the arts of scout skills and have the ability to perform the tests designed by the researcher, and certainly this step will be followed by steps that concern other scout stages. Through the foregoing, the objectives of the research were as follows: - Building tests for a number of links and scout courses for the advanced scout stage. Find standard scores and levels for a number of links and scout courses for the stage of advanced scouting. The research community was represented by students of the scout teams for the preparatory stage in Nineveh governorate center, and the sample of (10) schools were taken, five of which are on the right side of the city and the other five on the left side, and they were divided into the exploratory experiment sample and the construction sample as well as the application sample. As for the scout skills tests, A scientific steps were followed in selecting and presenting them to the experienced and specialized gentlemen as well as using the scientific foundations of honesty, consistency and objectivity. The link tests and scout courses were summarized as follows: (the Closed wedge bundle ,the woodcut bundle ,the square round , and the straight round). After that, the results were reached through the statistical laws that were represented by (arithmetic mean , standard deviation , correlation coefficient law (T) for differences and standard scores). The following conclusions were reached: Obtaining aspecial tests to measure a number of links and scouting courses for the stage of advanced scouting that enjoy the scientific foundations of honesty, consistency and objectivity as well as their natural distribution, which indicates their suitability for the research sample, namely: ( Closed wedge tie test, woodcutter work test, square cycle work test, straight cycle work test) . Reaching to Tables for the standard scores and levels of the tests for the links and the courses that were built.

The importance of this research lies in measuring the human body mass inside the water because it requires preparing a method or a new style sows us this variable accurately putting the solutions and it reduce the required time to calculate this variable in an objective way. So the importance of this research is limited in finding a simple scientific way in calculating the athletics body mass inside the water because measuring the variable inside the water requires many efforts and tools and to get the advantage of this research from the specialists in the biomechanics. The aim of the research was to find out a simple scientific method to calculate the body mass of the human inside the water, and the researcher used the descriptive approach for its suitability to the nature of search. The research sample included the students of the second year department of Physical Education / University of Halabja which includes (five) students, they were selected by the intentional way. The researcher used the measurement and analysis methods as away of collecting data, they dealt with data by these statistical ways: the arithmetic mean, standard deviation and the coefficient of variation, the data were treated statistically by using the computer within the Statistical Program of Social Sciences (SPSS) and the researcher concluded the following : Through the results of the research showed that the scientific equation of prepared to calculate the body mass of human inside the water was reached the real value of the human body inside the water, and therefore it can be adopted by the researches and studies dealing with this topic. The researcher recommended the following : - Using the mathematical scientific to measure the body mass inside the water. - Writing an equations and other software to calculate the biomechanical variables ( Kinematical and Kinetic variables).

Diabetes mellitus, a life-threatening non-communicable disease, is now an epidemic-level problem in developed countries, and also prevalent in developing countries, including Bangladesh. Bangladesh has been facing a significant and growing burden of diabetes mellitus handling in recent decades. In the present study, we investigated whether a daily walking intervention could improve the fasting blood sugar level in newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus participants in rural Bangladesh who were not on medication. A rural population of 1,045 people in Bangladesh were screened for diabetes mellitus. One hundred fifty-six people, including 87 diabetes mellitus participants, went through a 5-month daily walking program (twice daily, 1.5 km walking each time). In our initial screening, the prevalence of newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus cases was 8.5% in the rural population. Mean fasting blood sugar level in these new diabetes mellitus cases was 10.0 ± 0.33 mmol/L. After five months of exercise, both the fasting blood sugar and 2h OGTT sugar levels were significantly improved, and no DM (diabetes mellitus) cases were on medication. The current research findings show that a walking program can be a potential lifestyle intervention to combat the diabetes mellitus epidemic in a poor rural context in Bangladesh.

The importance of the research was in identifying the classroom interaction of the teachers of physical education for the preparatory stage in Maysan governorate according to the variables (experience, gender) and the extent of the lectuer impact on them, as he is considered the honest person that works to transfer a group of competencies that stem from several sources Including the sufficient knowledge to provide the student with all the information, ideas, and the field practices he provides on the ground in an organized and specific way, and the extent of students' assimilation of it to constitute a interacting link between him and his students, thus achieving educational and educational class interaction and under appropriate conditions and conditions that make communication and interaction between the teacher and his students Durable and fruitful. The researchers used the descriptive method of comparisons to prepare the class interaction scale, as the research community is (167) teachers and physical education teachers in Maysan Governorate, and the research sample of (148) teachers was chosen according to what the research procedures require and the survey sample included On (18) teachers and sports education teachers in Maysan governorate were deliberately selected at a rate of (10.78%) from the parent community, and the application sample consisted of (130) teachers and schools, by (80) teachers, and (50) physical education schools, It was chosen intentionally , and thus the percentage (77.84%) of the community of origin, and statistical treatments were carried out to extract the psychometric properties of the two scales (honesty, consistency ) And specifying the standard levels for them, where the SPSS statistic bag was used to obtain the results of the study, analyze it and discuss it. In light of discussing these results: 1- There are differences for teachers and teachers of physical education between the Center and districts in Maysan provinces executions in the variable of the variable reaction a teachers and teachers of the province center . Recommendations: 1- Conducting a similar study on the teachers of physical education for middle school in Maysan governorate

Background As in other types of cancers, sex is an essential factor in the origin and progression of glioblastomas. Research in the field of endocrinology and cancer suggests that gonadal steroid hormones play an important role in the progression and prevalence of glioblastomas. In the present review, we aim to discuss the actions and mechanism triggered by gonadal steroid hormones in glioblastomas. Main body Glioblastoma is the most common malignant primary brain tumor. According to the epidemiological data, glioblastomas are more frequent in men than in women in a 1.6/1 proportion both in children and adults. This evidence, and the knowledge about sex influence over the prevalence of countless diseases, suggest that male gonadal steroid hormones, such as testosterone, promote glioblastomas growth. In contrast, a protective role of female gonadal steroid hormones (estradiol and progesterone) against glioblastomas has been questioned. Several pieces of evidence demonstrate a variety of effects induced by female and male gonadal steroid hormones in glioblastomas. Several studies indicate that pregnancy, a physiological state with the highest progesterone and estradiol levels, accelerates the progression of low-grade astrocytomas to glioblastomas and increases the symptoms associated with these tumors. In vitro studies have demonstrated that progesterone has a dual role in glioblastoma cells: physiological concentrations promote cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while very high doses (out physiological range) reduce cell proliferation and increases cell death. Conclusion Gonadal steroid hormones can stimulate the progression of glioblastomas through the increase in proliferation, migration, and invasion. However, the effects mentioned above depend on the concentrations of these hormones and the receptor involved in hormone actions. Estradiol and progesterone can exert promoter or protective effects while the role of testosterone has been always associated to glioblastomas progression.

There is no sprot of the heart or its vessels that is not subjected to be infected with disease which may lead to severe heart problems that is either to be a temporary or chronic. The present study, therefore, tries to know the cases of the sudden death of the world football players and reasons that cause it. It also attempted to know how to prevent the occurrence of sudden death for the Iraqi football players. The method used is descriptive in addition to the analysis of the content. Around 148 cases of sudden death in the world arenas were chosen. The researchers have depended on observation, suggestion and speculation of the content change and the availability of resources, world internet scientific sites in addition to social media. Accordingly, the researchers have arrived to the following conclusions: The football player pays a little attention to the continuous medical tests of Echo & sonar. Heart diseases are the commonest among the cases of the sudden death.

Assessment of the total weight-bearing response of the navicular and talus bones is essential for evaluating the load absorption function. Although the weight-bearing response of the hindfoot valgus is likely related to the total weight-bearing response of the navicular and talus bones, this relationship is not well-understood. We evaluated the relationship between the total weight-bearing response of the navicular and talus bones and the weight-bearing response of the hindfoot valgus in the normal foot arch. Twenty-three males with normal foot arches were analyzed. We scanned the right foot of each participant under both non-loading and full weight-bearing conditions, using positional magnetic resonance imaging (pMRI). We measured the vertical and medial positions of the navicular and talus bones. The total positional changes of the navicular and talus bones (ΔTPCN and ΔTPCT, respectively) were calculated from the vertical and medial displacement values, using the Pythagorean theorem. To evaluate the weight-bearing response of the hindfoot valgus, the hindfoot alignment view (HAV) was measured. The difference in HAV (ΔHAV) between non-loading and full weight-bearing conditions was considered the weight-bearing response of the hindfoot valgus. Correlations between ΔTPCN, ΔTPCT, and ΔHAV were assessed using the Pearson correlation coefficient, and ΔTPCN and ΔTPCT were found to be moderately correlated with ΔHAV. Our study indicated that the total weight-bearing response of the navicular and talus bones correlated with the weight-bearing response of the hindfoot valgus in healthy adult males with normal foot arch.

The regulation of cell volume is an essential cellular process in nearly every living organism. The importance of volume regulation in immune cells cannot be understated, as it ensures proper cellular function and effective immune response. These cells utilize ion channels and transporters to maintain volume homeostasis through rapid ion transport across the cell membrane. Immune cells express mechanisms controlling regulatory volume decrease (RVD), regulatory volume increase (RVI), proliferative RVD, and apoptotic volume decrease (AVD). In this review, we summarize recent studies examining the importance of several ion channels, particularly potassium and chloride channels in regulating ion transport during osmotic stress, and in immune cell function, activation, proliferation, and death. We also review the key mechanisms functioning in immune cell proliferation and apoptosis. They serve a crucial role in maintaining adequate ionic concentrations, mediating immune cell activation, and generating proliferative pathways. These regulatory mechanisms play key roles in the function and survival of immune cells, as impaired volume regulation contributes to the pathophysiology of various disorders. A complete understanding of immune cell volume regulatory mechanisms may be a starting point for the development of therapeutic agents targeting these ion channels to treat inflammatory diseases.

The pathophysiology of thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection is poorly understood, despite high mortality. An evidence review was conducted to examine the biomechanical, chemical and genetic factors involved in thoracic aortic pathology. The composition of connective tissue and smooth muscle cells can mediate important mechanical properties that allow the thoracic aorta to withstand and transmit pressures. Genetic syndromes can affect connective tissue and signalling proteins that interrupt smooth muscle function, leading to tissue failure. There are complex interplaying factors that maintain thoracic aortic function in health and are disrupted in disease, signifying an area for extensive research.

BackgroundThere is growing evidence of sex differences in placental vascular development. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of fetal sex on uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) throughout gestation in a cohort of normal and complicated pregnancies.MethodsA prospective longitudinal study was conducted in 240 pregnant women. Pulsed wave Doppler ultrasound of the proximal uterine arteries was performed at a 4-weekly interval between 14 and 40 weeks of gestation. The patients were classified retrospectively as normal or complicated (one or more of maternal preeclampsia, preterm birth, or small for gestational age). To assess if the change in uterine artery PI during gestation differed between normal and complicated pregnancies and between fetal sexes, the uterine artery PI was modeled using a linear function of gestational age and the rate of change was estimated from the slope.ResultsWhile the uterine artery PI did not differ over gestation between females and males for normal pregnancies, the trajectory of this index differed by fetal sex for pregnancies complicated by either preeclampsia, preterm birth, or fetal growth restriction (p< 0.0001). The male fetuses in the complicated pregnancy group had an elevated slope compared to the other groups (p< 0.0001), suggesting a more progressive deterioration in uteroplacental perfusion over gestation.ConclusionsThe uterine artery PI is widely used to assess uteroplacental function in clinical settings. The observation that this metric changes more rapidly in complicated pregnancies where the fetus was male highlights the importance of sex when interpreting hemodynamic markers of placental maturation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Signaling and metabolic perturbations contribute to dysregulated skeletal muscle protein homeostasis and secondary sarcopenia in response to a number of cellular stressors including ethanol exposure. Using an innovative multiomics-based curating of unbiased data, we identified molecular and metabolic therapeutic targets and experimentally validated restoration of protein homeostasis in an ethanol-fed mouse model of liver disease. METHODS: Studies were performed in ethanol-treated differentiated C2C12 myotubes and physiological relevance established in an ethanol-fed mouse model of alcohol-related liver disease (mALD) or pair-fed control C57BL/6 mice. Transcriptome and proteome from ethanol treated-myotubes and gastrocnemius muscle from mALD and pair-fed mice were analyzed to identify target pathways and molecules. Readouts including signaling responses and autophagy markers by immunoblots, mitochondrial oxidative function and free radical generation, and metabolic studies by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and sarcopenic phenotype by imaging. RESULTS: Multiomics analyses showed that ethanol impaired skeletal muscle mTORC1 signaling, mitochondrial oxidative pathways, including intermediary metabolite regulatory genes, interleukin-6, and amino acid degradation pathways are β-hydroxymethyl-butyrate targets. Ethanol decreased mTORC1 signaling, increased autophagy flux, impaired mitochondrial oxidative function with decreased tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediary metabolites, ATP synthesis, protein synthesis and myotube diameter that were reversed by HMB. Consistently, skeletal muscle from mALD had decreased mTORC1 signaling, reduced fractional and total muscle protein synthesis rates, increased autophagy markers, lower intermediary metabolite concentrations, and lower muscle mass and fiber diameter that were reversed by β-hydroxymethyl-butyrate treatment. CONCLUSION: An innovative multiomics approach followed by experimental validation showed that β-hydroxymethyl-butyrate restores muscle protein homeostasis in liver disease.

The vast majority of patients with advanced breast cancer present skeletal complications that severely compromise their quality of life. Breast cancer cells are characterized by a strong tropism to the bone niche. After engraftment and colonization of bone, breast cancer cells interact with native bone cells to hinder the normal bone remodeling process and establish an osteolytic “metastatic vicious cycle”. The sympathetic nervous system has emerged in recent years as an important modulator of breast cancer progression and metastasis, potentiating and accelerating the onset of the vicious cycle and leading to extensive bone degradation. Furthermore, sympathetic neurotransmitters and their cognate receptors have been shown to promote several hallmarks of breast cancer, such as proliferation, angiogenesis, immune escape, and invasion of the extracellular matrix. In this review, we assembled the current knowledge concerning the complex interactions that take place in the tumor microenvironment, with a special emphasis on sympathetic modulation of breast cancer cells and stromal cells. Notably, the differential action of epinephrine and norepinephrine, through either a- or ß-adrenergic receptors, on breast cancer progression prompts careful consideration when designing new therapeutic options. In addition, the contribution of sympathetic innervation to the formation of bone metastatic foci is highlighted. In particular, we address the remarkable ability of adrenergic signaling to condition the native bone remodeling process and modulate the bone vasculature, driving breast cancer cell engraftment in the bone niche. Finally, clinical perspectives and developments on the use of ß-adrenergic receptor inhibitors for breast cancer management and treatment are discussed. This work was financed by FEDER—Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional funds through the COMPETE 2020—Operacional Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI), Portugal 2020, and Portuguese funds through FCT/ MCTES in the framework of the project “SproutOC” (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030158, PTDC/MED-PAT/30158/2017). F.C. is a recipient of the Ph.D. fellowship SFRH/BD/ 128771/2017. D.M.S. is a recipient of the postdoctoral fellowship SFRH/BPD/115341/ 2016.

Close-to-nature management (CTNM) has been proposed as a promising forestry management approach to improve the structure and quality of forests, which integrates wood production and ecological service functions. Research on the effect of CTNM on the univariate and bivariate distribution of the spatial structure of forest stands provides a scientific basis for the evaluation of CTNM implemented in forestry. Here, we analyzed and compared the spatial-structure characteristics of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) plantations (young, middle-age, and near-mature stages) under CTNM 8 years after selective cutting and unmanaged control. We used univariate and bivariate distribution of three spatial-structure parameters: mingling (M), dominance (U), and uniform-angle index (W). Results showed that the effect of CTNM on spatial structure was more remarkable in middle-aged and near-mature Masson pine forests compared with the young forest. CTNM significantly improved mingling degree and promoted the horizontal distribution, thereby changing from a cluster to a random distribution. Moreover, CTNM improved the proportion of trees with a high mixing degree and random distribution and the proportion of trees having a micro-structure of random distribution with a high degree of mixture and dominance with a high degree of mixture in middle-aged and near-mature Masson pine forest. Overall, the implementation of CTNM 8 years ago showed a positive effect on the improvement of the spatial structure of Masson pine forest, but the present spatial structure is suboptimal. Further implementation of CTNM to adjust the mingling and uniform-angle index is necessary, and CTNM according to this method of frequency distribution of stand structure parameters can improve the success of forest management.

In order to cope with external stressors such as changes in humidity and temperature or irritating substances, the epidermis as the outermost skin layer forms a continuously renewing and ideally intact protective barrier. Under certain circumstances, this barrier can be impaired and epidermal cells have to counteract cell swelling or shrinkage induced by osmotic stress via regulatory volume decrease (RVD) or increase (RVI). Here, we will review the current knowledge regarding the molecular machinery underlying RVD and RVI in the epidermis. Furthermore, we will discuss the current understanding how cell volume changes and its regulators are associated with epidermal renewal and barrier formation.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to examine the difference in risk factors of the metabolic syndrome according to exercise frequency in adult women who participated in the 12-week exercise program and cut-off value of exercise participation rate to improve metabolic syndrome.METHODS The subjects of this study were 150 adult women aged 40 to 64 with metabolic syndrome. They were divided into three groups according to the frequency of exercise. The 12-week exercise program involved aerobic and resistance exercises with moderate intensity. All subjects were measured before and after the program for the percentage of body fat, physical fitness, and risk factors of metabolic syndrome. The differences in each measurement variable before and after the program were analyzed and the interaction between the time and the group was measured. Cut-off values of exercise participation rate for improvement of metabolic syndrome were calculated, and logistic regression analysis for calculated cut-off values was conducted.RESULTS As a result, the percentage of body fat, flexibility, sit-up, SBP, TG, and HDL-C showed interaction by time and group. Exercise participation rate cut-off value for improving metabolic syndrome was calculated 46 days of a total 60 days. This is equivalent to 3.8 times a week of average exercise frequency.CONCLUSION The frequency of exercise after the 12-week exercise program has been shown to affect some fitness factors and metabolic syndrome factors. In addition, a significant cut-off value was calculated for the improvement of metabolic syndrome, and the average frequency of exercise was 3.8 times a week, and participation above this cut-off value increased the probability of improving metabolic syndrome by 1.5 times through 12-week exercise programs.

OBJECTIVES The damage to the cerebellum primarily results in balance-related abnormalities that may affect performance of locomotion and postural adjustments, eventually contributing to an increased risk of fall and fear of falling in patients with cerebellar disease. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of a perturbation-based training that induced backward loss of balance on compensatory postural responses in patients with cerebellar disease.METHODS The participant was a 51-year-old female diagnosed with spinocerebellar ataxia and had the disease for 19 years. The perturbation-based backward balance training was performed over 8 weeks (a total of 24 training sessions) in order to facilitate the perception of postural perturbation onset and execution of rapid compensatory responses.RESULTS The patient demonstrated a noticeable reduction in the number of steps required to recover body balance after postural disturbances. The reduction of multi-step reactions in recovering balance could be attributed to improvements in the body center-of-mass displacement and trunk control during the landing of step. Besides, there were also improvements in subjective measures of functional mobility and psychological well-being after the balance training.CONCLUSION Although current research evidence of balance rehabilitation for cerebellar patients is lacking, this study offers the feasibility of adaptive training to improve postural stability through task-specific training intervention.

Aging is associated with a progressive decline of skeletal muscle quantity and quality leading to a gradual slowing of movement, a decline in strength and power, and a condition known as sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is a syndrome a risk of adverse outcomes such as physical disability, poor quality of life and death. Agerelated losses in skeletal muscle mass and function have had a significant important in health care issue. In this study, we reviewed the recently introduced criteria for the Eastern and Western diagnosis of sarcopenia. A narrative review of evidence- and non-evidence-based papers was conducted, using a relevant methodological framework. This review is included the following: 1) definitions and diagnostic criteria over time; 2) pathophysiology of muscle loss; 3) management especially protein or amino acid supplementation, medications, and physical exercise.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of changes in cervical alignment on balance ability, to correct cervical alignment, and to present effective interventional variables that can improve balance ability.METHODS Group 1 (Deformed cervical alignment group, n = 16) and Group 2 (Normal cervical alignment group, n = 16). The subjects measured their balance ability before and after treatment with chiropractic and shoulder flexibility exercises. Balance ability was measured by static balance and dynamic balance. For Group 1, chiropractic was treated once a week for 15 minutes, and shoulder flexibility exercise was treated three times a week for one hour. The pre- and post-measurement results of Group 1 were compared with Group 2, and differences among groups and groups were analyzed. The test method was tested with the Independent t-test and Paired t-test.RESULTS Group 1 showed a significant reduction (p

OBJECTIVES This study was to determine the acute response of the toe-spread-out exercise(TSE) on the medial longitudinal arch height(MLAH) and the static and dynamic balance.METHODS Twenty-four healthy young males and females were randomly assigned to the exercise group(n=12) or to the control group(n=12). The exercise group performed 40 repetitions of TSE while the control group had a rest on the chair. Before and after the exercise or rest, MLAH was measured while standing. One-leg standing test was conducted on the force plate with eyes closed and open. The total distance of the center of pressure (COP) was calculated to assess the static balance. Y-balance test was performed; and the anterior, and medial/lateral posterior reach distances were measured to assess the dynamic balance.RESULTS There was an interaction between group and time for the MLAH (p

Surface electromyographic activity (sEMG) of the biceps brachii (BB) during weak elbow flexion has been reported to immediately increase after strong elbow flexion even while exerting consistent force; this phenomenon is called “post-contraction potentiation” (PCP). To determine whether the central nervous system is involved in PCP, we investigated the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the primary motor cortex (M1) during PCP. Initially, the participants were instructed to perform successive muscle contraction tasks with different forces: 2% (Test 1); then 25%, 50%, or 100% (conditioning contraction [CC]); and again 2% (Test 2) of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). In subsequent experiments, the CC intensity was set at 50% MVC, and tDCS (anodal, cathodal, and sham) was applied to the M1 before the task. In the last experiment, TMS was applied to M1 to evaluate the excitability of the corticospinal tract during Tests 1 and 2. The CC intensity at 50% or 100% MVC generated PCP, but didn’t at 25% MVC. Anodal tDCS significantly decreased the magnitude of PCP, while cathodal tDCS showed an increase in magnitude compared to sham tDCS. The BB motor-evoked potential amplitude during Test 2 was lower compared to that during Test 1. These findings suggest that changes in the excitability of the corticospinal tract and resultant changes in the activation pattern of motor unit activity play a role in generating PCP.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) maintains homeostasis through the balance of the sympathetic and parasympathetic subsystems or divisions. Currently, analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) offers an indirect, non-invasive assessment of ANS function. An irregular lifestyle and stress are known to affect ANS balance, influencing many diseases. Moreover, ANS disorder plays an important role in climacteric symptoms in menopausal females. The purpose of this study was designed to assess the effects of yoga practice sessions (herein referred to as “yoga”) on ANS function and focused on the relationship between ANS function and subject age or personal history of yoga. A total of 113 healthy females participated in this study. They attended a 90-120 minute yoga practice session conducted by a well-qualified instructor. ANS function was assessed before and after the yoga practice session by HRV power spectral analysis. As a result, in females, yoga reduced fatigue by primarily improving sympathetic activity. In addition, the LnHF values tended to be increased after yoga only in the over-60y (60 years) group. Furthermore, there were individual differences in the amount of change in the sympathetic and parasympathetic activity values. In females with a low activity level before yoga, values were increased; whereas values decreased in females with a high activity value before yoga. In subjects with ≥5-year history of yoga, there was no significant correlation between the ANS parameters and subject age. Our study suggests that yoga for females supports well-balanced ANS function, and that the continuation of yoga over a period of time contributes to an improvement in ANS function.

Inspiratory muscle fatigue (IMF) may limit exercise performance. It has been reported that IMF occurs after various exercises; however, it remains unclear whether IMF occurs after tennis singles match play. The purpose of this study was to test whether tennis singles match play induced IMF. Nine female college tennis players participated in this study. The players were paired in accordance with their skill level, and then played a singles match for an effective playing time (EPT) of 20 minutes. A portable autospirometer was used to measure the maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) before and immediately after the match as an index of IMF. Heart rate and perceptual measurements were recorded after every 2.5 minutes of effective playing time. The total match duration in this study was 96 ± 8 minutes. Post-match MIP was significantly lower than pre-match MIP (103 ± 21 cmH2O vs. 92 ± 22 cmH2O, p < 0.05, effect size = 0.47), and the magnitude of the decrease in MIP was 10.0 ± 9.7%. The present results show that IMF occurs after tennis singles match play in females.

Interest in vegetarian and vegan diets continues to grow, not only in the general population, but in the high-performing athlete. Vegetarian diets may lower risk of chronic diseases and have proposed ergogenic benefits to the athlete regarding exercise performance and enhanced recovery. However, controversy and confusion exist in the literature regarding vegetarianism. Traditionally, a vegetarian or vegan diet was considered low in certain micronutrients (iron, zinc, calcium, iodine, vitamin A, B2, B12, D), as well as protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and total energy needs. However, a vegetarian diet typically contains higher complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber, magnesium, nitrates, folic acid, vitamin C and E, carotenoids and other phytochemicals which may offer certain performance benefits to the athlete. This review summarizes the current literature on the benefits of a vegetarian diet specific to the athlete, clarifies nutritional requirements, and provides insight on the potential performance benefits. With proper meal planning, an athlete can meet all their nutritional needs with foods derived from plants without any loss in physical performance.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Microglia are the dynamic motile phagocytes of the brain considered the first line of defense against threats or disturbances to the Central Nervous System (CNS). Microglia help orchestrate the immunological response by interacting with others immune cells. Mast cells (MCs) are effector cells of the innate immune system distributed in all organs and vascularized tissues, brain included. Several molecular mechanisms for potential interactions between MCs and microglia have been determined. However, the effect of MCs on regulated exocytosis and phagocytic clearance in microglia has not been explored. METHODS: Cocktails of MCs mediators (MCM) obtained at 37°C and 53°C were used to induce microglia activation. Changes in intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i and ATP release were studied by calcium and quinacrine fluorescence imaging. Fluorescent latex beads were used to assay phagocytosis in microglia after MCM treatment and compared to that measured in the presence of histamine, ATP and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Iba-1 expression and area were quantified by immunofluorescence and histamine levels evaluated by ELISA techniques. RESULTS: Local application onto microglia of the MC mediator cocktail elicited Ca2+ transients and exocytotic release associated with quinacrine dye de-staining. Ca2+ signals were mimicked by histamine and blocked by the H1 receptor (H1R) antagonist, cetirizine. Hydrolysis of ATP by apyrase also affected Ca2+ transients to a lesser extent. Iba-1 fluorescence, cell area and phagocytosis were enhanced by histamine through H1R. However, ATP prevented iba-1 expression and microglial phagocytosis. MCM showed combined effects of histamine and ATP, increasing the number of internalized microbeads per cell and area without raising iba1 expression. CONCLUSION: Our results highlight the relevance of MC-derived histamine and ATP in the modulation of secretory and phagocytic activities that would explain the heterogeneity of microglial responses in different pathological contexts.

Artificial selection and genetic engineering plus an expanding repertoire and use of agrochemical inputs have allowed a rapid and continuous increase in crop yield (i.e., volume production per unit area) over the last century, which is needed to fulfill food demands from a growing human population. However, the first signs of yield deceleration and stagnation have already been reported for some globally important crops. There- fore, the study of the drivers of yield growth and its variation is essential for directing research and policies aiming at ensuring food security in the forthcoming years. We used data on mean and variability in annual yield growth for 107 globally important crops to assess the role of environmental (i.e., climatic region) and plant intrinsic traits (i.e., type of harvested organ, pollinator dependence, and life form) as drivers of change in yield growth and its stability. We applied a comparative approach to control for biases associated with phylogenetic non-independence among crops, an approach rarely used in agronomic studies. Average yield growth and its variation were not phylogenetically structured. Yield growth decreased with increasing pollinator dependence in tree crops but not in herbaceous and shrubby crops. Interannual yield variation tended to increase with in creasing pollinator dependence, and it was higher in crops from temperate regions, in those cultivated for their reproductive organs, and in tree and shrubby crops as compared with herbaceous ones. Information on ecological correlates of crop yield growth and interannual yield variation can be used in the design of more sustainable and diversified agriculture schemes. Selección artificial e ingeniería genética más un repertorio en expansión y uso de agroquímicos insumos han permitido un aumento rápido y continuo en el rendimiento de los cultivos (es decir, el volumen de producción por unidad de superficie) durante el siglo pasado, que se necesita para satisfacer las demandas de alimentos de una población humana en crecimiento. Sin embargo, la primera Ya se han informado signos de desaceleración y estancamiento del rendimiento para algunos cultivos de importancia mundial. Allá por lo tanto, el estudio de los impulsores del crecimiento del rendimiento y su variación es esencial para dirigir la investigación y las políticas con el objetivo de garantizar la seguridad alimentaria en los próximos años. Usamos datos sobre la media y la variabilidad en el rendimiento anual crecimiento de 107 cultivos de importancia mundial para evaluar el papel del medio ambiente (es decir, la región climática) y de la planta rasgos intrínsecos (es decir, tipo de órgano recolectado, dependencia del polinizador y forma de vida) como impulsores del cambio en el rendimiento crecimiento y su estabilidad. Aplicamos un enfoque comparativo para controlar los sesgos asociados con filogenética la no independencia entre cultivos, un enfoque raramente utilizado en estudios agronómicos. El crecimiento medio del rendimiento y su variación no estaban filogenéticamente estructurados. El crecimiento del rendimiento disminuyó con el aumento de la dependencia de los polinizadores en cultivos arbóreos pero no en cultivos herbáceos y arbustivos. La variación interanual del rendimiento tendió a aumentar con la aumentando la dependencia de los polinizadores, y fue mayor en cultivos de regiones templadas, en aquellos cultivados por su órganos reproductivos, y en cultivos arbóreos y arbustivos en comparación con los herbáceos. Información sobre ecológico Los correlatos del crecimiento del rendimiento de los cultivos y la variación interanual del rendimiento se pueden utilizar en el diseño de sistemas más sostenibles y sostenibles esquemas de agricultura diversificada. Fil: Gleiser, Gabriela. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina. Fil: Gleiser, Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fil: Leme da Cunha, Nicolay. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina. Fil: Leme da Cunha, Nicolay. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fil: Sáez, Agustín. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina. Fil: Sáez, Agustín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fil: Aizen, Adrián. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina. Fil: Aizen, Adrián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.

Background/Aims: The mineral-dust-induced gene mdig is a lung-cancer-associated oncogene. The focus of this study is to evaluate the expression status of mdig in lung cancer and to assess its influence in predicting the patient’s overall survival. Methods: Using high-density tissue microarrays and clinical samples of synchronous multiple primary lung cancer (SMPLC), we investigated the expression of mdig through immunohistochemistry and utilized the open-access lung cancer patient databases containing genomic and transcriptomic data from the UCSC Xena and TCGA web platforms to determine the prognostic values of mdig expression status among different subtypes of lung cancer. Results: mdig is upregulated in smokers and in lung squamous cell carcinoma. High mdig expression predicted poor overall survival in lung squamous cell carcinoma and female smokers. Among tumor tissues from SMPLC patients, we not only unraveled the highest positive rate of mdig expression, but also revealed a unique cytoplasmic, rather than nuclear localization of mdig protein. Furthermore, by inspecting some pathological but not cancerous lung tissues, we believe that mdig is required for the transformation of non-cancerous lung cells to the fully-fledged cancer cells. Conclusion: These data suggested that mdig is involved in various stages of lung carcinogenesis, possibly through the epigenetic regulation on some critical cancer-associated genes, and increased mdig expression is an important prognostic factor for some types of lung cancer.

High density of intracellular macromolecules creates a special condition known as macromolecular crowding (MC). One well-established consequence of MC is that only a slight change in the concentration of macromolecules (e.g., proteins) results in a shift of chemical equilibria towards the formation of macromolecular complexes and oligomers. This suggests a physiological mechanism of converting cell density changes into cellular responses. In this review, we start by providing a general overview of MC; then we examine the available experimental evidence that MC may act as a direct signaling factor in several types of cellular activities: mechano- and osmosensing, cell volume recovery in anisosmotic solutions, and apoptotic shrinkage. The latter phenomenon is analyzed in particular detail, as persistent shrinkage is known both to cause apoptosis and to occur during apoptosis resulting from other stimuli. We point to specific apoptotic reactions that involve formation of macromolecular complexes and, therefore, may provide a link between shrinkage and downstream responses.

OBJECTIVES The purposes of the current study were to examine the construct and predictive validity, and reliability of the developmental coordination disorder questionnaire’ 07 (DCDQ’ 07) for young children with developmental disabilities (DD).METHODS 135 parents of young children with DD completed an online questionnaire which consisted of demographic information, the DCDQ’ 07, and a physical activity behavior questionnaire. A one-way analysis of variance was conducted to evaluate motor difficulties across different types of young children with DD. Exploratory factor analysis and Cronbach’s alpha were used to examine construct validity and reliability of the DCDQ’ 07. Moreover, hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to examine the association between the DCDQ’ 07 scores and physical activity behaviors in young children with DD.RESULTS The one-way analysis of variance indicated that the DCDQ’ 07 scores were significantly different across different types of young children with DD = 6.66, p

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Exposure to particulate air pollution is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. These effects are particularly aggravated in patients with pre-existing kidney diseases. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNPs), used as diesel fuel additives, are emitted in vehicle exhaust and affect humans when inhaled. However, thrombotic and cardiac injury resulting from pulmonary exposure to CNPs in experimental acute kidney injury (AKI) is not fully understood. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the thrombotic and cardiac injury effects of CNPs in a rat model of AKI. METHODS: AKI was induced in rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin (CDDP, 6 mg/kg). Six days after injection, rats were intratracheally (i.t.) instilled with either CNPs (1 mg/kg) or saline (control), and various cardiovascular variables and markers of inflammation, oxidative stress and DNA injury were assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, colorimetric assay, single-cell gel electrophoresis assay and immunohistochemistry, the following day. RESULTS: Compared with individual CDDP or CNPs treatments, the combined CDDP + CNPs treatment elevated significantly the coagulation function, relative heart weight, and troponin I, lactate dehydrogenase, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and total nitric oxide levels in the plasma. In heart homogenates, the combination of CDDP and CNPs induced a significant increase in IL-6, TNFα, catalase, and glutathione. Furthermore, significantly more DNA damage was observed in this group than in the CDDP or CNPs groups. Immunohistochemical analysis of the heart revealed that expression of nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2) and glutathione peroxidase by cardiac myocytes and endothelial cells was increased in the CDDP + CNPs group more than in either CDDP or CNPs group. CONCLUSION: I.t. administration of CNPs in rats with AKI exacerbated systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and coagulation events. It also aggravated cardiac inflammation, DNA damage, and Nrf2 expression.

Lunar phases remarkably influence the circadian cycle of living beings. Early amphibian studies date back to the 1960s, but only recently has more research been conducted in this field. Much still needs to be understood to establish the behavioral pattern of this group according to the synodic cycle. In the present study, we sought to determine (i) whether the vocalization activity was influenced by the lunar phases and (ii) whether the influence was species-specific or affects the community with equal intensity. We expected a great diversity of behaviors and adaptations. Rayleigh's test was used to verify whether the sample differs significantly from the null hypothesis; Rao's test was used to check sample size sufficiency; and the Kiviat diagram was used to evaluate the activity of the species in relation to the complete synodic cycle. We have observed 1691 individuals of 37 species over 882 d. The lunar cycle influenced 78 % of the species, with 32 % preferring the lower-albedo phases. The activity pattern of each species was established. These results suggest that the lunar phases influence the vocalization activity of most species. Therefore, there is a general pattern of activity related to the synodic cycles; however, the specificities still need to be better understood.

Background Fetal sex is known to modify the course and complications of pregnancy, with recent evidence of sex-differential fetal influences on the maternal immune and endocrine systems. In turn, heightened inflammation and surges in reproductive hormone levels associated with pregnancy and parturition have been linked with the development of perinatal depression. Here, we examined whether there is an association between fetal sex and maternal depression assessed during the prenatal and postnatal periods. Methods The study included two multi-ethnic, prospective pregnancy cohorts that enrolled women from prenatal clinics in the Northeastern United States between 2001 and 2018. Maternal depressive symptoms were measured during the prenatal and postnatal periods using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), and newborn sex was reported by the mother following delivery. We used logistic regression to examine associations between fetal sex and maternal depressive symptoms (EPDS > 10) during the prenatal period only, postnatal period only, or both periods versus no depressive symptoms during either period. We considered both unadjusted models and models adjusted for a core set of sociodemographic and lifestyle variables. Results In adjusted models using PRISM data (N = 528), women pregnant with a male versus female fetus had significantly greater odds of depressive symptoms during the postnatal period compared to women without depressive symptoms during either period (odds ratio [OR] = 5.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.93, 14.21). The direction of results was consistent in the ACCESS cohort, although the findings did not reach statistical significance (OR = 2.05, 95% CI = 0.86, 4.93). Significant associations were not observed in either cohort among women with prenatal symptoms only or women with prenatal and postnatal symptoms. Conclusions Male fetal sex was associated with the onset of depressive symptoms during the postnatal period.

Bone remodeling is precisely coordinated by bone resorption and formation. Apoptotic osteoclasts generate large amounts of apoptotic bodies (ABs) marking the end of the bone resorption phase, whereas the functions of osteoclast-derived ABs remain largely unknown. Here, we identified the molecular profile of ABs derived from osteoclasts at distinct differentiation stages and investigated their corresponding functions. ABs were isolated from apoptotic bone marrow macrophages, preosteoclasts, and mature osteoclasts induced by staurosporine. Proteomic signature analysis with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry suggested marked protein cargo differences among the different ABs. Further bioinformatic analysis showed that the proteomic signatures of the ABs were highly similar to those of their parental cells. Functionally, pOC-ABs induced endothelial progenitor cell differentiation and increased CD31hiEmcnhi endothelial cell formation in a murine bone defect model via their PDGF-BB cargo. mOC-ABs induced osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and facilitated osteogenesis via RANKL reverse signaling. In summary, we mapped the detailed proteomic landscapes of ABs derived from osteoclasts and showed that their potential biological roles are important in coupling bone formation with resorption during bone remodeling.

Background Men have a higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) early in life, while women have a higher risk later in life. The sex-related differences in CVD risk, especially by age, could be related to sphingolipid metabolism. We compared plasma sphingolipid concentrations and its increase by age in men and women. Methods Plasma concentrations of 13 types of sphingolipids were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in a random subsample of 328 men and 372 women of Dutch and South-Asian Surinamese ethnic origin, participating in the HELIUS study. Sphingolipid concentrations were compared between men and women by age group (18–39, 40–55, and 56–70 years). Multiple linear regression was used to determine sex differences in age trends in sphingolipids stratified by ethnicity. Analyses were performed without adjustment and adjusted for body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. Results At age 18–39 years, sphingolipid concentrations were lower in women than those in men, but at age 56–70 years this was reversed. At higher age, women showed higher concentrations than men. In line, we observed a more rapid increase of sphingolipid concentrations by age in women than in men. The observed sex differences were not explained by BMI or waist circumference. Patterns of sex differences were similar across ethnic groups, although the strength of associations differed. Conclusions Mean sphingolipid concentrations increase more rapidly with age in women than in men. Therefore, plasma lipid concentrations of sphingolipids, although lower in women than in men at younger age, are higher in women than in men at older age.