The Efficacy of Administering Fruit-Derived Polyphenols to Improve Health Biomarkers, Exercise Performance and Related Physiological Responses

open access articlePolyphenols are secondary metabolites involved in a myriad of critical processes in plants. Over recent decades, special attention has been paid to the anti-oxidative role of fruit-derived polyphenols in the human diet, with evidence supporting the contribution of polyphenols in the prevention of numerous non-communicable disease outcomes. However, due to the low concentration in biological fluids in vivo, the antioxidant properties of polyphenols seem to be related to an enhanced endogenous antioxidant capacity induced via signaling through the nuclear respiratory factor 2 pathway. Polyphenols also seem to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and have been shown to enhance vascular function via nitric oxide mediated mechanisms. Consequently, there is rationale to support fruit-derived polyphenol supplementation to enhance exercise performance, possibly via improved muscle perfusion. Fruit-derived polyphenol supplementation in exercise studies have included a variety of fruits, e.g., New Zealand blackcurrant, pomegranate, and cherry, in the form of extracts (multicomponent or purified), juices and infusions to varying degrees of benefit. For example, research has yet to link the health-related benefits of black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) ingestion to exercise performance in spite of the purported health benefits associated with black elderberry provision in vitro and in vivo models, which has been attributed to their high antioxidant capacity and polyphenol content. This review summarizes the existing evidence supporting a beneficial effect of fruit-derived polyphenols on various biological processes and outlines the potential for black elderberry ingestion to improve nitric oxide production, exercise performance, and the associated physiological responses before-, during- and post-exercise

New approach to Dynamical Monte Carlo Methods: application to an Epidemic Model

A new approach to Dynamical Monte Carlo Methods is introduced to simulate markovian processes. We apply this approach to formulate and study an epidemic Generalized SIRS model. The results are in excellent agreement with the forth order Runge-Kutta Method in a region of deterministic solution. We also demonstrate that purely local interactions reproduce a poissonian-like process at mesoscopic level. The simulations for this case are checked self-consistently using a stochastic version of the Euler Method.Comment: Written with Scientific WorkPlace 3.51 in REVTex4 format, 11 pages with 2 figures in postscript forma

Thermoregulatory responses to combined moderate heat stress and hypoxia

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the cutaneous vascular and sudomotor responses to combined moderate passive heat stress and normobaric hypoxia. Method: Thirteen healthy young males, dressed in a water-perfused suit, underwent passive heating (Δcore temperature ~0.7 °C) twice (NORMOXIA; 20.9% O2 and HYPOXIA; 13% O2). Chest and forearm skin blood flow (SkBF; laser Doppler flux), local sweat rate (SR; capacitance hygrometry) and core (intestinal pill) and skin temperatures, were recorded. Results: HYPOXIA reduced baseline oxygen saturation (98±1 vs. 89±6%, P<0.001) and elevated chest (P=0.03) and forearm SkBF (P=0.03) and HR (64±9 vs. 69±8 beats.min-1, P<0.01). During heating, mean body temperature (T ̅BODY) thresholds for SkBF (P=0.41) and SR (P=0.28) elevations were not different between trials. The SkBF: T ̅BODY linear sensitivity during the initial phase of heating was lower at the Chest (P=0.035) but not different at the forearm (P=0.17) during HYPOXIA. With increasing levels of heating chest SkBF was not different (P=0.55) but forearm SkBF was lower on the forearm (P<0.01) during HYPOXIA. Chest (P=0.85) and forearm (P=0.79) SR:T ̅BODY linear sensitivities were not different between trials. Conclusion: Whilst sudomotor responses and the initiation of cutaneous blood flow elevations are unaffected, hypoxia differentially effects regional SkBF responses during moderate passive heating

A revision of the South American snake genus Thamnodynastes Wagler, 1830 (Serpentes, Colubridae, Tachymenini): I. Two new species of Thamnodynastes from Central Brazil and adjacent areas, with a redefinition of and neotype designation for Thamnodynastes pallidus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Two new species of Thamnodynastes whose ranges are entirely or largely in Brazil are described. Thamnodynastes pallidus, one of the most easily identified species of the genus, is redefined and a neotype is designated, and Coluber strigilis Thunberg is placed in its synonymy, thus clarifying an enduring state of confusion in the taxonomy of this genus

Fermentation kinetics including product and substrate inhibitions plus biomass death: a mathematical analysis

Fermentation is generally modelled by kinetic equations giving the time evolutions for biomass, substrate, and product concentrations. Although these equations can be solved analytically in simple cases if substrate/product inhibition and biomass death are included, they are typically solved numerically. We propose an analytical treatment of the kinetic equations --including cell death and an arbitrary number of inhibitions-- in which constant yield needs not be assumed. Equations are solved in phase space, i.e. the biomass concentration is written explicitly as a function of the substrate concentration.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

The Dwarf Spheroidal Companions to M31: Variable Stars in Andromeda VI

We have surveyed Andromeda VI, a dwarf spheroidal galaxy companion to M31, for variable stars using F450W and F555W observations obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope. A total of 118 variables were found, with 111 being RR Lyrae, 6 anomalous Cepheids, and 1 variable we were unable to classify. We find that the Andromeda VI anomalous Cepheids have properties consistent with those of anomalous Cepheids in other dwarf spheroidal galaxies. We revise the existing period-luminosity relations for these variables. Further, using these and other available data, we show that there is no clear difference between fundamental and first-overtone anomalous Cepheids in a period-amplitude diagram at shorter periods, unlike the RR Lyrae. For the Andromeda VI RR Lyrae, we find that they lie close to the Oosterhoff type I Galactic globular clusters in the period-amplitude diagram, although the mean period of the RRab stars, = 0.588 d, is slightly longer than the typical Oosterhoff type I cluster. The mean V magnitude of the RR Lyrae in Andromeda VI is 25.29+/-0.03, resulting in a distance 815+/-25 kpc on the Lee, Demarque, & Zinn distance scale. This is consistent with the distance derived from the I magnitude of the tip of the red giant branch. Similarly, the properties of the RR Lyrae indicate a mean abundance for Andromeda VI which is consistent with that derived from the mean red giant branch color.Comment: 23 pages, including 13 figures and 6 tables, emulateapj5/apjfonts style. Accepted by the Astronomical Journal. We recommend the interested reader to download the preprint with full-resolution figures, which can be found at http://www.noao.edu/noao/staff/pritzl/M31dwarfs.htm

Long-term magnetic activity of a sample of M-dwarf stars from the HARPS program II. Activity and radial velocity

Due to their low mass and luminosity, M dwarfs are ideal targets if one hopes to find low-mass planets similar to Earth by using the radial velocity (RV) method. However, stellar magnetic cycles could add noise or even mimic the RV signal of a long-period companion. Following our previous work that studied the correlation between activity cycles and long-term RV variations for K dwarfs we now expand that research to the lower-end of the main sequence. Our objective is to detect any correlations between long-term activity variations and the observed RV of a sample of M dwarfs. We used a sample of 27 M-dwarfs with a median observational timespan of 5.9 years. The cross-correlation function (CCF) with its parameters RV, bisector inverse slope (BIS), full-width-at-half- maximum (FWHM) and contrast have been computed from the HARPS spectrum. The activity index have been derived using the Na I D doublet. These parameters were compared with the activity level of the stars to search for correlations. We detected RV variations up to ~5 m/s that we can attribute to activity cycle effects. However, only 36% of the stars with long-term activity variability appear to have their RV affected by magnetic cycles, on the typical timescale of ~6 years. Therefore, we suggest a careful analysis of activity data when searching for extrasolar planets using long-timespan RV data.Comment: 20 pages, 12 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astophysic

‘Clinics aren’t meant for men’: Sexual health care access and seeking behaviours among men in Gauteng province, South Africa

Men may be key players in the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STI), and it is important that STI/HIV health services reach men. The objective of this study was to explore sexual health care access and seeking behaviours in men. This study used focus groups to examine sexual health care access and seeking behaviours in men 5 years after implementation of free antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the South African public sector. Six focus groups (N=58) were conducted with men ≥18 years in an urban area of Gauteng province. Men were recruited from various locations throughout the community. Men reported several barriers and facilitators to the use of public and private clinics for sexual health services including HIV testing, and many men reported seeking care from traditional healers. Men often viewed public clinics as a place for women and reported experiences with some female nurses who were rude or judgmental of the men. Additionally, some men reported that they sought sexual health care services at public clinics; however, they were not given physical examinations by health care providers to diagnose their STI syndrome. Most men lacked knowledge about ART and avoided HIV testing because of fear of death or being abandoned by their families or friends. Study findings suggest that men still require better access to high-quality, non-judgmental sexual health care services. Future research is needed to determine the most effective method to increase men’s access to sexual health care services.Keywords: sexual health care access, men.Les hommes peuvent être des responsables dans la transmission des infections sexuellement transmissibles (IST), et il est important que les services de santé des IST/VIH les sensibilisent (les hommes). Les objectifs de cette étude étaient d’examiner l’accès aux soins de santé et les comportements sexuels des hommes pendant 5 ans après la mise en oeuvre de la thérapie antirétrovirale (ART) gratuite dans le secteur public Sud-Africain. Six groups d’hommes âgés ≥18 ans (N=58) ont menés des discussions dans la zone urbaine de la province de Gauteng. Ces hommes sont recrutés dans divers endroits dans toute la communauté. Ils ont déclarés rencontrés des obstacles et facilitateurs à l’accès des cliniques publiques et privées des services de santé sexuelle, y compris le test du VIH, et beaucoup d’hommes déclarent être à la recherche de soins vers des guérisseurs traditionnels. Les hommes ont souvent vu les cliniques publiques comme des endroits pour les femmes et se sont souvent plaint des expériences qu’ils ont eues par rapport aux infirmières qui ont un mauvais jugement sur eux. Certains d’entre eux ont déclaré qu’ils cherchaient des soins de santé dans les cliniques publiques, mais qu’ils n’étaient pas soumis à des examens physiques pour diagnostiquer leurs syndrome d’IST. La plupart d’entre eux n’avaient pas de connaissances de l’ART et évitent le test du VIH parce qu’ils ont peur de la mort ou d’être abandonné par leurs familles ou leurs amis. Cette étude suggère que les hommes doivent exiger de meilleures qualités de soins, un non-jugement des services de santé sexuelle. Les recherches futures sont nécessaires pour déterminer la méthode la plus efficace d’accroitre l’accès des hommes aux services de santé sexuelle

Investigation of fiber/matrix adhesion: test speed and specimen shape effects in the cylinder test

The cylinder test, developed from the microdroplet test, was adapted to assess the interfacial adhesion strength between fiber and matrix. The sensitivity of cylinder test to pull-out speed and specimen geometry was measured. It was established that the effect of test speed can be described as a superposition of two opposite, simultaneous effects which have been modeled mathematically by fitting two parameter Weibull curves on the measured datas. Effects of the cylinder size and its geometrical relation on the measured strength values have been analyzed by finite element method. It was concluded that the geometry has a direct influence on the stress formation. Based on the results achieved, recommendations were given on how to perform the novel single fiber cylinder test