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Targeted molecular therapeutics for Parkinson's Disease: A role for antisense oligonucleotides?
Get PDFParkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder characterized by marked heterogeneity in clinical symptoms and a complex genetic background..
Self-Paced cycling at the highest sustainable intensity with blood flow restriction reduces external but not internal training loads
No full textPurpose: This study compared training loads and internal:external load ratios from an aerobic interval session at the highest perceptually sustainable intensity with and without blood flow restriction (BFR). Methods: On separate days, 14 endurance cyclists/triathletes completed four 4-minute self-paced aerobic cycling intervals at their highest sustainable intensity, with and without BFR (60% of arterial occlusion pressure). Internal training load was quantified using 3 training impulses (TRIMP; Banister, Lucia, and Edwards) and sessional ratings of perceived exertion. External load was assessed using total work done (TWD). Training load ratios between all internal loads were calculated relative to TWD. Results: Lucia TRIMP was lower for the BFR compared with non-BFR session (49 [9] vs 53 [8] arbitrary units [au], P = .020, dz = −0.71). No between-conditions differences were observed for Banister TRIMP (P = .068), Edwards TRIMP (P = .072), and training load in sessional ratings of perceived exertion (P = .134). The TWD was lower for the BFR compared with non-BFR session (223 [52] vs 271 [58] kJ, P < .001, dz = −1.27). Ratios were greater for the BFR session compared with non-BFR for Lucia TRIMP:TWD (0.229 [0.056] vs 0.206 [0.056] au, P < .001, dz = 1.21), Edwards TRIMP:TWD (0.396 [0.105] vs 0.370 [0.088] au, P = .031, dz = 0.66), and training load in sessional ratings of perceived exertion:TWD (1.000 [0.266] vs 0.890 [0.275] au, P = .044, dz = 0.60), but not Banister TRIMP:TWD (P = .306). Conclusions: Practitioners should consider both internal and external loads when monitoring BFR exercise to ensure the demands are appropriately captured. These BFR-induced changes were reflected by the Lucia TRIMP:TWD and Edwards TRIMP:TWD ratio, which could be used to monitor aerobic BFR training loads. The Lucia TRIMP:TWD ratio likely represents BFR-induced changes more appropriately compared with ratios involving either Edwards or Banister TRIMP
QTL (quantitative trait loci) mapping for nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) based on a high–density consensus map of wheat
Get PDFNitrogen is not only an essential element for wheat growth, but also a major determinant for wheat yield and protein quality. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is therefore a key factor in determining profit in wheat production, either through enhancing grain yields (GY) and grain protein content (GPC) or reducing fertilizer costs. NUE is defined as GY*GPC/N supply so both GY and GPC are targeted. To date, QTL mapping on NUE related traits has been using recombined inbred lines (RIL) and double haploid (DH) populations grown at different nitrogen levels. As most of the QTL mapping has been based on a single mapping population with limited genetic background, genetic regions identified are less abundant and of lower effects, whereas consensus maps generated from multiple genetic populations with wider genetic coverage are more efficient in QTL mapping. The Murdoch University wheat research group has developed six DH populations and using 90K SNP array analysis, a high–density consensus map was constructed containing 11,643 markers. Combined with two–year field trials, six major QTL clusters for NUE and related traits were detected on six chromosomes, explaining 4.7 – 20.8% of the phenotypic variances across environments. Two major QTL clusters (CI–2D and CI–4D) showed favourable relationships between GY and GPC, suggesting it is feasible to improve the grain yield and NUE simultaneously. A total of 176 potential candidate genes were associated with these six major QTL clusters. The use of consensus mapping based on six genetic populations varying in NUE is unprecedented, allowing identification and validation of candidate genes, target alleles and gene–based SNP haplotypes in the QTL clusters which can be used to accelerate the improvement of NUE in wheat breeding programs
Intensive adoption as a management strategy for unowned, urban cats: A case study of 25 years of trap–assess–resolve (TAR) in Auckland, New Zealand
Get PDFGlobally, unowned urban cats are a major concern because they may suffer from poor welfare and cause problems, including public health risks, nuisances, and urban wildlife predation. While management options are often presented as a choice between culling or trap–neuter–return (TNR), for 25 years, the Lonely Miaow (Inc.) charity in Auckland, New Zealand (hereafter LM), has used a third strategy—intensive adoption or trap–assess–resolve (TAR). As of 2019, of 14,611 unowned cats trapped, 64.2% were adopted, 22.2% were euthanized if unsocialised or in grave ill-health, 5.7% were neutered and returned to the site, and 7.9% had other outcomes, such as being transferred to other shelters. Adoption rates increased over this time, exceeding 80.0% in 2018 and 2019. The cost of processing each cat from capture to adoption rose from NZD 58 in 1999 to NZD 234 by 2017. Approximately 80% of colonies (sites where cats were trapped) were around residential areas. Approximately 22% of cats required veterinary treatment after capture; common ailments included respiratory infections, ringworm, dental problems, and trauma. Consistently, 52% of cats were young kittens (5 years old. TAR avoids euthanasia where possible. Its effectiveness would be enhanced by fewer abandonments of owned cats and kittens, fitting within integrated strategies for the control of unowned cats involving community education. Cat adoptions improve the welfare of cats and, with appropriate husbandry, should alleviate concerns about nuisances, public health, and attacks on wildlife or the cats themselves, essentially benefitting the community and the cats. This case study is relevant to other cities around the world that are seeking to manage unowned cats
High blood glucose and excess body fat enhance pain sensitivity and weaken pain inhibition in healthy adults: a single-blind cross-over randomised controlled trial
No full textTo investigate links between blood glucose, body fat mass and pain, the effects of acute hyperglycaemia on pain sensitivity and pain inhibition were examined in healthy adults with normal (n = 24) or excess body fat (n = 20) determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Effects of hyperglycaemia on heart rate variability and reactive hyperaemia were also explored. For the overall sample, ingesting 75-g glucose enhanced pain sensitivity during 1-minute cold-water immersion of both feet (conditioning stimulus) and weakened the pain inhibitory effect of cold water on pressure pain thresholds (test stimulus). Exploratory subgroup analyses not adjusted for multiple comparisons suggested that this effect was limited to people with excess fat mass. In addition, acute hyperglycaemia suppressed resting heart rate variability only in people with excess fat mass. Furthermore, regardless of blood glucose levels, people with excess fat mass had weaker pain inhibition for pinprick after cold water and reported more pain during 5-minutes of static blood flow occlusion. Neither high blood glucose nor excess body fat affected pinprick-temporal summation of pain or reactive hyperaemia. Together, these findings suggest that hyperglycaemia and excess fat mass interfere with pain processing and autonomic function
Emotional stress classification using spiking neural networks
No full textObjective: This study examined the data modeling capability of spiking neural networks (SNN) in classifying stressed versus relaxed brain states using electroencephalogram (EEG) data. The input spatiotemporal dynamics were explored to obtain further knowledge regarding the two-brain states. Method: A publicly available EEG data set for emotion analysis using psychological signals (DEAP) collected from 32 participants (50% females) with an average age of 26.9 is used in this study. Firstly, data extraction is performed using a criterion that defines stress and relaxation states using self-reported valence and arousal scores. Two hundred eight such extracted samples were selected to train and evaluate a novel three-layer feedforward SNN. This SNN consisted of leaky-integrate and fire neurons and learned from incoming data using spike-time-dependent plasticity (STDP) and dynamically evolving SNN algorithms. The SNN performance was evaluated using both fivefold cross-validation and a 60:40 training testing split. To explore input spatiotemporal dynamics, a specialized SNN architecture for brain data processing named NeuCube was used. Results: The highest-performing model of the novel SNN algorithm produced 88% average accuracy (F1 score: 86.21%, Matthews correlation coefficient: 0.78). This SNN outperformed traditional machine learning (ML) techniques without the use of manual feature extraction. Moreover, the input dynamics revealed higher prefrontal activation during relaxation states compared to stress states. Conclusions: The results showed the capability of the SNN algorithm to recognize stressed and relaxed states of the brain, using temporal learning techniques. Furthermore, the findings obtained from NeuCube suggested a potential approach for brain data analysis, setting SNNs apart from black box approaches used for brain data processing
An incentivized and optimized dynamic mechanism for demand response for managing voltage in distribution networks
Get PDFThe voltage regulation in distribution networks is one of the major obstacles when increasing the penetration of distributed generators (DGs) such as solar photovoltaics (PV), especially during cloud transients, causing potential stress on network voltage regulations. Residential demand response (DR) is one of the cost-effective solutions for voltage management in distribution networks. However, the main barriers of DR implementation are the complexities of controlling a large number and different types of residential loads, satisfying customers’ preferences and providing them fair incentives while identifying the optimum DR implementation locations and sizing as well as cooperating with the existing network equipment for the effective voltage management in the networks. A holistic and practical approach of DR implementation is missing in the literature. This study proposes a dynamic fair incentive mechanism using a multi-scheme load control algorithm for a large number of DR participants coordinating with the existing network equipment for managing voltage at medium voltage (MV) networks. The multi-scheme load control is comprised of short-interval (10-minute) and long-interval (2-hour) DR schemes. The dynamic incentive rates are optimized based on the energy contribution of DR participating consumers, their influence on the network voltage and total power loss improvement. The proposed method minimizes the DR implementation cost and size, fairly incentivizes the consumers participating in the DR and priorities their consumption preferences while reduces the network power losses and DGs’ reactive power contributions to effectively manage the voltage in the MV networks. An improved hybrid particle swarm optimization algorithm (IHPSO) is proposed for the load controller to provide fast convergence and robust optimization results. The proposed approach is comprehensively tested using the IEEE 33-bus and IEEE 69-bus networks with several scenarios considering a large number of DR participants coordinated with the DGs and on-load tap changer (OLTC) in the networks
The effect of the inclusion of trunk-strengthening exercises to a multimodal exercise program on physical activity levels and psychological functioning in older adults: Secondary data analysis of a randomized controlled trial
Get PDFBackground
Engaging in multimodal exercise program helps mitigate age-related decrements by improving muscle size, muscle strength, balance, and physical function. The addition of trunk-strengthening within the exercise program has been shown to significantly improve physical functioning outcomes. Whether these improvements result in improved psychological outcomes associated with increased physical activity levels requires further investigation. We sought to explore whether the inclusion of trunk-strengthening exercises to a multimodal exercise program improves objectively measured physical activity levels and self-reported psychological functioning in older adults.
Method
We conducted a secondary analysis within a single-blinded parallel-group randomized controlled trial. Sixty-four healthy older (≥ 60 years) adults were randomly allocated to a 12-week walking and balance exercise program with (n = 32) or without (n = 32) inclusion of trunk strengthening exercises. Each program involved 12 weeks of exercise training, followed by a 6-week walking-only program (identified as detraining). Primary outcome measures for this secondary analysis were physical activity (accelerometry), perceived fear-of-falling, and symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Results
Following the 12-week exercise program, no significant between-group differences were observed for physical activity, sedentary behaviour, fear-of-falling, or symptoms of anxiety or depression. Significant within-group improvements (adjusted mean difference [95%CI]; percentage) were observed in moderate-intensity physical activity (6.29 [1.58, 11.00] min/day; + 26.3%) and total number of steps per min/day (0.81 [0.29 to 1.33] numbers or + 16.3%) in trunk-strengthening exercise group by week 12. With respect to within-group changes, participants in the walking-balance exercise group increased their moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (4.81 [0.06 to 9.56] min/day; + 23.5%) and reported reduction in symptoms of depression (-0.26 [-0.49 to -0.04] points or -49%) after 12 weeks of the exercise program. The exercise-induced increases in physical activity levels in the trunk-strengthening exercise group were abolished 6-weeks post-program completion. While improvements in physical activity levels were sustained in the walking-balance exercise group after detraining phase (walking only).
Conclusions
The inclusion of trunk strengthening to a walking-balance exercise program did not lead to statistically significant between-group improvements in physical activity levels or psychological outcomes in this cohort following completion of the 12-week exercise program
Molecular pathways of WRKY genes in regulating plant salinity tolerance
Get PDFSalinity is a natural and anthropogenic process that plants overcome using various responses. Salinity imposes a two-phase effect, simplified into the initial osmotic challenges and subsequent salinity-specific ion toxicities from continual exposure to sodium and chloride ions. Plant responses to salinity encompass a complex gene network involving osmotic balance, ion transport, antioxidant response, and hormone signaling pathways typically mediated by transcription factors. One particular transcription factor mega family, WRKY, is a principal regulator of salinity responses. Here, we categorize a collection of known salinity-responding WRKYs and summarize their molecular pathways. WRKYs collectively play a part in regulating osmotic balance, ion transport response, antioxidant response, and hormone signaling pathways in plants. Particular attention is given to the hormone signaling pathway to illuminate the relationship between WRKYs and abscisic acid signaling. Observed trends among WRKYs are highlighted, including group II WRKYs as major regulators of the salinity response. We recommend renaming existing WRKYs and adopting a naming system to a standardized format based on protein structure
Identification of unique microbial signatures pre- and post-coitus in male-female pairings by massively parallel sequencing and its potential to detect sexual contact
Get PDFBackground: The capture of male DNA, post-assault, is important in sexual assault investigation, particularly where an offender is unknown to the victim. The recovery of DNA often occurs when the female victim undergoes a forensic medical assessment. Analysis regularly results in mixed autosomal DNA profiles. As these results contain both victim and perpetrator DNA, they are often difficult to interpret a searchable male profile. While STR profiling of the male Y-chromosome is often used to overcome this, the successful identification of an individual can be hindered by the paternal inheritance pattern of Y-STRs. An adjunct method of perpetrator identification lies with microbiome analysis using massively parallel sequencing.
Aims: This study aimed to identify ASVs that were unique to each participant and compare the bacterial communities found on the genitals pre- and post-coitus. From the sequence data derived, statistical analysis was performed to investigate if bacteria sequences could be used to infer contact between each male-female pairing.
Content: Samples were collected from 14 male-female pairings across two recruitment cohorts. Volunteers were asked to self-collect samples pre- and post-coitus. Samples were extracted using PureLink™ Microbiome DNA Purification Kit. Extracted DNA underwent library preparation using primers targeting the V1-V9 hypervariable regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene (~1,449 bp). Libraries were sequenced by PacBio® SMRT Sequel II sequencing platform. Unique bacterial signatures were detected in low frequencies (<1%) in male and female participants pre-coitus. The data indicates a disruption to microbial composition post-coitus. Further genomic analysis is needed to confirm species and subspecies classification of bacteria