The complete plastome of Hyacinthoides non-scripta (L.) Chouard ex Rothm. (Asparagaceae)

The whole plastome sequence ofHyacinthoides non-scripta, was assembled and annotated in this study.This is the first complete plastid genome for the genusHyacinthoides. The plastome is 155,035 bp longand consists of a large single-copy (LSC) region spanning 83,947 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) regionspanning 18,496bp, and two inverted repeat (IR) regions, each of which is 26,296bp in length. Thereare 132 genes annotated in the plastome, of which the protein-coding geneinfAhas pseudogenized

The complete chloroplast genome of Narcissus poeticus L. (Amaryllidaceae: Amaryllidoideae)

The first complete chloroplast genome sequence for Narcissus is assembled and annotated in this study. The total length of the N. poeticus chloroplast genome is 160,099 bp and comprises the large single copy (LSC) spanning 86,445 bp, the small single copy (SSC) spanning 16,434 bp, and two inverted repeat regions each of 28,610 bp length. The truncated copy of ycf1 before the junction between IRB and SSC was 1,277 – 2,428 bp longer than in other included Asparagales samples. A potential pseudogene, cemA, was also identified. This is the first reported plastome for Amaryllidaceae subfamily Amaryllidoideae

Kinematics and neuromuscular recruitment during vertical treadmill exercise

The vertical treadmill (VertiRun) is an unresearched, partial weight-bearing exercise mode for lower limb rehabilitation. The user undertakes a “running-like” action whilst body weight is supported by a bench and the limb is drawn downwards against overhanging resistance cables on a vertically hung nonmotorised treadmill. This study sought to describe the kinematics and neuromuscular recruitment during VertiRun exercise in the supine, 40°, and 70° postures. Twenty-one healthy male participants (age, 25±7 years; stature, 1.79±0.07 m; body mass, 77.7±8.8 kg) volunteered for sagittal plane kinematic analysis of the ankle, knee and hip and electromyography of lower limb musculature in all three postures. Results indicated similar kinematic and neuromuscular profiles in the 40° and 70° postures which differed from the supine. Regardless of posture, a basic movement pattern was observed where the hamstrings and gastrocnemius muscles were active to extend the hip, flex the knee, plantarflex the ankle and draw the leg down the treadmill belt in the contact phase. The rectus femoris and tibialis anterior were active to flex the hip and knee, and dorsiflex the ankle to draw the leg upwards during the swing phase. The vasti muscles were not active during VertiRun exercise. The VertiRun demonstrated similar kinematic and neuro-muscular patterns to overground gait, allows workload progression based on effort and posture changes, and is a low-impact exercise mode that could maintain physical fitness without loading injured tissues. This study suggests that the VertiRun could supplement rehabilitation programmes for lower-limb injuries

The biomechanics of and physiological responses to vertical treadmill exercise.

The vertical treadmill is a novel exercise mode designed for the physical conditioning of athletes. It requires a running action in a recumbent posture on a vertically hung, non-motorised treadmill whilst the limbs are supported with overhanging resistance cables. To the author's knowledge, there has been no research on the vertical treadmill. Therefore, the aim of this thesis was to identify whether the vertical treadmill is an appropriate tool for physical conditioning. To achieve this aim there were four objectives: 1) identify the lower limb kinematics; 2) identify the neuromuscular recruitment patterns during vertical treadmill exercise in different postures and intensities; 3) identify the acute physiological responses to vertical treadmill exercise at varying intensities and 4) identify the adaptations to a training intervention on the vertical treadmill in a physically active population. The kinematic and neuromuscular recruitment patterns during vertical treadmill exercise revealed that irrespective of posture and intensity, the hamstrings and gastrocnemius muscles were active to draw the leg downwards against the resistance cables and the rectus femoris and tibialis anterior were active in the upward phase. The vastii muscles were not active. The 40° and 70° postures were similar and both differed from the supine posture. The physiological responses to submaximal and maximal vertical treadmill exercise in the 40° posture revealed a lower maximum heart rate and VO2peak when compared with conventional treadmill running. The onset of blood lactate (2 mmol.L[-1]) during very light vertical treadmill exercise and a high maximal lactate identified the vertical treadmill as a predominantly anaerobic exercise. In light of this, the effect of a 6-week sprint interval training (SIT) (4-6, 30 s all-out efforts with 4.5 min recovery, 3 times per week) on VO2max, maximum anaerobic running power and responses to submaximal running on a conventional treadmill were compared with SIT performed over ground (20 m shuttle sprints) and control group. The key findings of this study were that over ground and vertical treadmill SIT increased the anaerobic running power by 4% each and that VO2max, increased by 4% and 6%, respectively. No differences were found in submaximal running responses. This evidence indicates that vertical treadmill can be used as a low-impact conditioning tool without detriment to running performance. The physiological underpinnings for the improvement in running performance should be the focus of future research

The value of prognostic ultrasound features of breast cancer in different molecular subtypes with a focus on triple negative disease

The ultrasound (US) features of breast cancer have recently been shown to have prognostic significance. We aim to assess these features according to molecular subtype. 1140 consecutive US visible invasive breast cancers had US size and mean stiffness by shearwave elastography (SWE) recorded prospectively. Skin thickening (> 2.5 mm) overlying the cancer on US and the presence of posterior echo enhancement were assessed retrospectively while blinded to outcomes. Cancers were classified as luminal, triple negative (TN) or HER2 + ve based on immunohistochemistry and florescent in-situ hybridization. The relationship between US parameters and breast cancer specific survival (BCSS) was ascertained using Kaplan–Meier survival curves and ROC analysis. At median follow-up 6.3 year, there were 117 breast cancer (10%) and 132 non-breast deaths (12%). US size was significantly associated with BCSS all groups (area under the curve (AUC) 0.74 in luminal cancers, 0.64 for TN and 0.65 for HER2 + ve cancers). US skin thickening was associated most strongly with poor prognosis in TN cancers (53% vs. 80% 6 year survival, p = 0.0004). Posterior echo enhancement was associated with a poor BCSS in TN cancers (63% vs. 82% 6 year survival, p = 0.02). Mean stiffness at SWE was prognostic in the luminal and HER2 positive groups (AUC 0.69 and 0.63, respectively). In the subgroup of patients with TN cancers receiving neo-adjuvant chemotherapy posterior enhancement and skin thickening were not associated with response. US skin thickening is a poor prognostic indicator is all 3 subtypes studied, while posterior enhancement was associated with poor outcome in TN cancer

The serological responses to acute exercise in humans reduce cancer cell growth in vitro: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

We systematically reviewed and meta‐analyzed the effects of acute exercise‐conditioned serum on cancer cell growth in vitro. Five literature databases were systematically searched for studies that measured cancer cell growth after exposure to human sera obtained before and immediately after an acute bout of exercise. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using a three‐level random‐effects model. Meta‐regressions were also performed with participant age and disease status, exercise type, cell line TP53 status, and serum incubation time entered as covariates. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria encompassing a total of 21 effect estimates and 98 participants. Exercise‐conditioned serum significantly reduced cancer cell growth compared with preexercise serum (SMD = −1.23, 95% CI: −1.96 to −0.50; p = .002; I2 = 75.1%). The weighted mean reduction as a percentage of preexercise values was 8.6%. The overall treatment effect and magnitude of heterogeneity were not statistically influenced by any covariate. There were concerns regarding the risk of bias within individual studies and Egger's test of the intercept showed evidence of small study effects (β = −3.6, p = .004). These findings provide in vitro evidence that the transient serological responses to acute exercises reduce cancer cell growth, although many questions remain regarding the underlying mechanistic pathways and potential effect modifiers. To strengthen this evidence‐base, future studies should seek to reduce the risk of bias by using more rigorous experimental designs, and consider using 3D cell culture models to better replicate in vivo tumor conditions. PROSPERO registration: CRD42020161333

Selective electrochemical generation of benzylic radicals enabled by ferrocene-based electron-transfer mediators

The use of ferrocene mediators offers significant advantages over direct electrolysis in the generation and functionalization of radicals from benzylboronates.</p

Work-related stress:The impact of COVID-19 on critical care and redeployed nurses: A mixed-methods study

Lisa Salisbury - ORCID: 0000-0002-1400-3224 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1400-3224Replaced AM with VoR 2021-07-08.Introduction: We need to understand the impact of COVID-19 on Critical Care (CCNs) and redeployed nurses and NHS organisations. Methods and analysis: This is a mixed methods study (QUANT – QUAL), underpinned by a theoretical model of occupational stress, the Job-Demand Resources Model (JD-R). Participants are critical care and redeployed nurses from Scottish and three large English units. Phase one is a cross-sectional survey in part replicating a pre-COVID-19 study and results will be compared with this data. Linear and logistic regression analysis will examine the relationship between antecedent, demographic, and professional variables on health impairment (burnout syndrome, mental health, posttraumatic stress symptoms), motivation (work engagement, commitment), and organisational outcomes (intention to remain in critical care nursing and quality of care). We will also assess the usefulness of a range of resources provided by the NHS and professional organisations. To allow in-depth exploration of individual experiences, phase two will be one-to-one semi-structured interviews with 25 CCNs and 10 redeployed nurses. The JD-R model will provide the initial coding framework to which the interview data will be mapped. The remaining content will be analysed inductively to identify and chart content that is not captured by the model. In this way the adequacy of the JD-R model is examined robustly and its expression in this context will be detailed. Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval was granted from the University of Aberdeen CERB2020101993. We plan to disseminate findings at stakeholder events, publish in peer reviewed journals and at present at national and international conferences.https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-05132611pubpub