Effects of diet and/or exercise in enhancing spinal cord sensorimotor learning.

Given that the spinal cord is capable of learning sensorimotor tasks and that dietary interventions can influence learning involving supraspinal centers, we asked whether the presence of omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and the curry spice curcumin (Cur) by themselves or in combination with voluntary exercise could affect spinal cord learning in adult spinal mice. Using an instrumental learning paradigm to assess spinal learning we observed that mice fed a diet containing DHA/Cur performed better in the spinal learning paradigm than mice fed a diet deficient in DHA/Cur. The enhanced performance was accompanied by increases in the mRNA levels of molecular markers of learning, i.e., BDNF, CREB, CaMKII, and syntaxin 3. Concurrent exposure to exercise was complementary to the dietary treatment effects on spinal learning. The diet containing DHA/Cur resulted in higher levels of DHA and lower levels of omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid (AA) in the spinal cord than the diet deficient in DHA/Cur. The level of spinal learning was inversely related to the ratio of AA:DHA. These results emphasize the capacity of select dietary factors and exercise to foster spinal cord learning. Given the non-invasiveness and safety of the modulation of diet and exercise, these interventions should be considered in light of their potential to enhance relearning of sensorimotor tasks during rehabilitative training paradigms after a spinal cord injury

A Comparison of Swimming Economy Between Two Full-Sleeve Wetsuits

A wetsuit is an important piece of equipment that a triathlete uses during their swim-bike-run race. Wetsuits differ based on style (e.g., full-sleeve or sleeveless), manufacturer and price. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare swimming economy in two full-sleeve wetsuits in a group of recreational swimmers and triathletes. METHODS: Nine men (34.3 ± 13.3 years old) and six women (37.8 ± 16.0 years old) completed a progressive swim test to exhaustion in a swim flume without a wetsuit to determine their peak rate of oxygen consumption (VO2peak). This was followed by three 5-min swimming bouts at a constant, submaximal speed. The three trials were randomized and consisted of an entry-level full-sleeve wetsuit (blueseventy Sprint), a high-end full-sleeve wetsuit (blueseventy Helix) and no wetsuit. Rates of O2 consumption and CO2 production were measured using a metabolic cart and heart rate was determined with a chest strap. Data from the last 2 min of each submaximal swimming trial were analyzed. RESULTS: Peak rate of O2 consumption was 40.6 ± 8.0 ml kg-1 min-1 and corresponded to a respiratory exchange ratio, heart rate and rating of perceived exertion (RPE; Borg scale) of 0.97 ± 0.07, 165 ± 12 bpm, and 16.2 ± 1.7, respectively. The pace for the submaximal swimming trials was 1.02 ± 0.14 m/s, which corresponded to 79.7% ± 6.7% of their VO2peak. The subjects expended 9.8 ± 2.7 and 9.9 ± 2.9 kcal/min while swimming in the high-end and entry-level wetsuit, respectively. Both wetsuits reduced energy expenditure compared to swimming without a wetsuit (11.8 ± 3.5 kcal/min; p \u3c 0.001). Heart rate was significantly higher (p \u3c 0.001) with no wetsuit (146 ± 12 bpm), but did not differ between wetsuits (high-end 137 ± 13 bpm; entry-level 137 ±15 bpm). Arm cadence did not differ between trials (p = 0.571). Lastly, RPE was 12.1 ± 1.6 with no wetsuit compared to 10.9 ± 1.4 (p = 0.018) and 11.1 ± 1.5 (p = 0.051) for the high-end and entry-level wetsuits, respectively. CONCLUSION: The were no differences in any measured variable between wetsuits, although swimming with either wetsuit was more economical compared to swimming without a wetsuit. Data from this study suggest that a wetsuit should be worn when allowed but that the specific model of wetsuit may be less important. Future studies should compare two homogenous groups of swimmers or triathletes (e.g., elite vs. beginner) or see how wearing a wetsuit affects performance during the cycling segment of a triathlon

Machine learning classifies predictive kinematic features in a mouse model of neurodegeneration

Motor deficits are observed in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) prior to the appearance of cognitive symptoms. To investigate the role of amyloid proteins in gait disturbances, we characterized locomotion in APP-overexpressing transgenic J20 mice. We used three-dimensional motion capture to characterize quadrupedal locomotion on a treadmill in J20 and wild-type mice. Sixteen J20 mice and fifteen wild-type mice were studied at two ages (4- and 13-month). A random forest (RF) classification algorithm discriminated between the genotypes within each age group using a leave-one-out cross-validation. The balanced accuracy of the RF classification was 92.3 ± 5.2% and 93.3 ± 4.5% as well as False Negative Rate (FNR) of 0.0 ± 0.0% and 0.0 ± 0.0% for the 4-month and 13-month groups, respectively. Feature ranking algorithms identified kinematic features that when considered simultaneously, achieved high genotype classification accuracy. The identified features demonstrated an age-specific kinematic profile of the impact of APP-overexpression. Trunk tilt and unstable hip movement patterns were important in classifying the 4-month J20 mice, whereas patterns of shoulder and iliac crest movement were critical for classifying 13-month J20 mice. Examining multiple kinematic features of gait simultaneously could also be developed to classify motor disorders in humans

Exchange Coupling and Magnetic Blocking in Bipyrimidyl Radical-Bridged Dilanthanide Complexes

The synthesis and magnetic properties of three new bipyrimidyl radical-bridged dilanthanide complexes, [(Cp*₂Ln)₂(μ-bpym^•)]⁺ (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy), are reported. Strong Ln^III-bpym^•– exchange coupling is observed for all species, as indicated by the increases in χ_M<i>T</i> at low temperatures. For the Gd^III-containing complex, a fit to the data reveals antiferromagnetic coupling with <i>J</i> = −10 cm^–1 to give an <i>S</i> = ¹³/₂ ground state. The Tb^III and Dy^III congeners show single-molecule magnet behavior with relaxation barriers of <i>U</i>_eff = 44(2) and 87.8(3) cm^–1, respectively, a consequence of the large magnetic anisotropies imparted by these ions. Significantly, the latter complex exhibits a divergence of the field-cooled and zero-field-cooled dc susceptibility data at 6.5 K and magnetic hysteresis below this temperature

Exchange Coupling and Magnetic Blocking in Bipyrimidyl Radical-Bridged Dilanthanide Complexes

The synthesis and magnetic properties of three new bipyrimidyl radical-bridged dilanthanide complexes, [(Cp*₂Ln)₂(μ-bpym^•)]⁺ (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy), are reported. Strong Ln^III-bpym^•– exchange coupling is observed for all species, as indicated by the increases in χ_M<i>T</i> at low temperatures. For the Gd^III-containing complex, a fit to the data reveals antiferromagnetic coupling with <i>J</i> = −10 cm^–1 to give an <i>S</i> = ¹³/₂ ground state. The Tb^III and Dy^III congeners show single-molecule magnet behavior with relaxation barriers of <i>U</i>_eff = 44(2) and 87.8(3) cm^–1, respectively, a consequence of the large magnetic anisotropies imparted by these ions. Significantly, the latter complex exhibits a divergence of the field-cooled and zero-field-cooled dc susceptibility data at 6.5 K and magnetic hysteresis below this temperature

Exchange Coupling and Magnetic Blocking in Bipyrimidyl Radical-Bridged Dilanthanide Complexes

The synthesis and magnetic properties of three new bipyrimidyl radical-bridged dilanthanide complexes, [(Cp*₂Ln)₂(μ-bpym^•)]⁺ (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy), are reported. Strong Ln^III-bpym^•– exchange coupling is observed for all species, as indicated by the increases in χ_M<i>T</i> at low temperatures. For the Gd^III-containing complex, a fit to the data reveals antiferromagnetic coupling with <i>J</i> = −10 cm^–1 to give an <i>S</i> = ¹³/₂ ground state. The Tb^III and Dy^III congeners show single-molecule magnet behavior with relaxation barriers of <i>U</i>_eff = 44(2) and 87.8(3) cm^–1, respectively, a consequence of the large magnetic anisotropies imparted by these ions. Significantly, the latter complex exhibits a divergence of the field-cooled and zero-field-cooled dc susceptibility data at 6.5 K and magnetic hysteresis below this temperature

Exchange Coupling and Magnetic Blocking in Bipyrimidyl Radical-Bridged Dilanthanide Complexes

The synthesis and magnetic properties of three new bipyrimidyl radical-bridged dilanthanide complexes, [(Cp*₂Ln)₂(μ-bpym^•)]⁺ (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy), are reported. Strong Ln^III-bpym^•– exchange coupling is observed for all species, as indicated by the increases in χ_M<i>T</i> at low temperatures. For the Gd^III-containing complex, a fit to the data reveals antiferromagnetic coupling with <i>J</i> = −10 cm^–1 to give an <i>S</i> = ¹³/₂ ground state. The Tb^III and Dy^III congeners show single-molecule magnet behavior with relaxation barriers of <i>U</i>_eff = 44(2) and 87.8(3) cm^–1, respectively, a consequence of the large magnetic anisotropies imparted by these ions. Significantly, the latter complex exhibits a divergence of the field-cooled and zero-field-cooled dc susceptibility data at 6.5 K and magnetic hysteresis below this temperature

Effects of diet and/or exercise in enhancing spinal cord sensorimotor learning.

Given that the spinal cord is capable of learning sensorimotor tasks and that dietary interventions can influence learning involving supraspinal centers, we asked whether the presence of omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and the curry spice curcumin (Cur) by themselves or in combination with voluntary exercise could affect spinal cord learning in adult spinal mice. Using an instrumental learning paradigm to assess spinal learning we observed that mice fed a diet containing DHA/Cur performed better in the spinal learning paradigm than mice fed a diet deficient in DHA/Cur. The enhanced performance was accompanied by increases in the mRNA levels of molecular markers of learning, i.e., BDNF, CREB, CaMKII, and syntaxin 3. Concurrent exposure to exercise was complementary to the dietary treatment effects on spinal learning. The diet containing DHA/Cur resulted in higher levels of DHA and lower levels of omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid (AA) in the spinal cord than the diet deficient in DHA/Cur. The level of spinal learning was inversely related to the ratio of AA:DHA. These results emphasize the capacity of select dietary factors and exercise to foster spinal cord learning. Given the non-invasiveness and safety of the modulation of diet and exercise, these interventions should be considered in light of their potential to enhance relearning of sensorimotor tasks during rehabilitative training paradigms after a spinal cord injury

Effects of diet and/or exercise in enhancing spinal cord sensorimotor learning.

Given that the spinal cord is capable of learning sensorimotor tasks and that dietary interventions can influence learning involving supraspinal centers, we asked whether the presence of omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and the curry spice curcumin (Cur) by themselves or in combination with voluntary exercise could affect spinal cord learning in adult spinal mice. Using an instrumental learning paradigm to assess spinal learning we observed that mice fed a diet containing DHA/Cur performed better in the spinal learning paradigm than mice fed a diet deficient in DHA/Cur. The enhanced performance was accompanied by increases in the mRNA levels of molecular markers of learning, i.e., BDNF, CREB, CaMKII, and syntaxin 3. Concurrent exposure to exercise was complementary to the dietary treatment effects on spinal learning. The diet containing DHA/Cur resulted in higher levels of DHA and lower levels of omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid (AA) in the spinal cord than the diet deficient in DHA/Cur. The level of spinal learning was inversely related to the ratio of AA:DHA. These results emphasize the capacity of select dietary factors and exercise to foster spinal cord learning. Given the non-invasiveness and safety of the modulation of diet and exercise, these interventions should be considered in light of their potential to enhance relearning of sensorimotor tasks during rehabilitative training paradigms after a spinal cord injury