The Effects of Resistance Exercise, Resistance Training, and a Multi-Ingredient High Caffeine Pre-Exercise Supplement on the p38 and ERK1/2 Cellular Signaling Proteins.

Mitogen Activated Protein Kinases (MAPKs) have been implicated in cellular signal transduction leading to cellular growth and differentiation in skeletal muscle following exercise. This dissertation provides a review of the published literature describing the role and actions of the MAPK pathways particularly the ERK1/2 and p38 pathways in response to exercise and to nutritional supplements. Two separate but related investigations were conducted. The first sought to elucidate the effect of various permutations of acute resistance exercise programming using a high concentric velocity (high power) back squat exercise on the mitogen activated protein kinases ERK1/2 and p38. The second investigation examined the effect of 8 weeks of resistance training with and without a multi-ingredient caffeinated pre-workout supplement on the same two MAPK pathways (p38 and ERK1/2), and other performance variables. Taken together these two studies show the response of ERK1/2 and p38 to resistance exercise programing variables and resistance exercise training status. This information taken in light of the previous research has significant implications for strength and conditioning coaches, trainers, and therapists who are seeking to increase muscular strength and hypertrophy for any number of reasons. RESEARCH ABSTRACT FOR STUDY 1 PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of three different high power back squat protocols and the associated muscular power production on the MAPKs, ERK1/2 and p38. Power fatigue across sets was also considered METHODS: Nine recreationally trained males (21.4±1.67 years, 202.9±21.4 lbs.), completed each of three speed squat protocols in randomized order. The three testing protocols consisted of 5 sets of 10 repetitions at 30% of 1RM; 5 sets of 5 repetitions at 70% of 1RM; and 5 sets of 3 repetitions at 90% of 1RM. Average and peak power measurements were obtained by Tendo Weightlifting Analyzer for 7 of the subjects. Resting and post exercise blood lactate and muscle biopsies were taken. Western blot analysis was completed for ERK1/2 and p38 as well as their phosphorylaed counterparts. RESULTS: Blood lactate increased similarly between the three testing protocols. Analysis of power measures identified a significant main effect for load (F=10.23, p= 0.004), but not for set, p >0.05). The average power was lower for the 90% protocol than for the 30% protocol (F= 28.96, p0.05). The average power was lower for the 90% protocol than for the 30% protocol (F= 28.96, p(2,16) = 5.514, p=0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Resistance load appears to affect power fatigue across five sets of resistance exercise. The heaviest load had the highest power fatigue, while the light and moderate loads did not show any evidence of power fatigue. The exercise modality, training status of the subjects, and/or the timing may account for the limited MAPK response to resistance exercise in this study. RESEARCH ABSTRACT FOR STUDY 2 PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the acute and training effects with and without a multi-ingredient high caffeine pre-workout supplement on squat and bench press power, vertical jump, and the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways (ERK1/2 and p38). METHODS: Twenty four of thirty physically active collegiate (19.5±0.269 yr) males completed this double blind placebo controlled investigation. Subjects in the Experimental group (EXP) (n=14) consumed a multi-ingredient, high caffeine (450mg) pre-exercise supplement 10-15 minutes before each training session. Subjects in the Control group (CON) (n=10) drank a non-caloric placebo at the same times. Both groups completed an eight week resistance training program (3days/wk). Squat and bench press power and vertical jump were measured before and after the 8 weeks of resistance training. Muscle biopsies were also taken before and after the first and last workouts of the training program. Separate repeated measures ANOVAs were performed to test for differences between EXP and CON groups for power as well as total, phosphorylated and the relative ratio of phosphorylated to total ERK1/2 and p38. RESULTS: Squat power measurements showed a significant group by time interaction (F(1/22) =4.857, p=0.038). Vertical Jump and bench press power did increase with training, but did not differ between groups. Not only did ERK phosphorylation and the ratio of phophorylation increase after exercise (F (1,22) = 4.854, p = 0.38; F(1,22) = 5.159, p=0.033) but there was evidence that the ERK1/2 exercise response was is reduced after weeks of training (F(1,22) = 6.607, p=0.017). P38 was increased following training, but there was no effect of exercise bout on the phosphorylation on p38 in this study. DISCUSSION: Only one of the three power measurements, squat power, was benefited by the supplementation. EXP group than the CON group, the supplement did not affect any ERK1/2 or p38 measures. Eight weeks of pre-workout supplementation may provide some muscle performance benefit when combined with resistance exercise training. This study supports previous findings that ERK1/2 phosphorylation following exercise is blunted by exercise training

Contribution to the knowledge of the Cicindelidae of Benin with collecting notes (Coleoptera Cicindelidae)

A checklist of Coleoptera Cicindelidae presently known from Benin is given. Nine taxa are recorded for the first time from this country. Collecting data, habitat and behaviour observations of adults made by the first author during two expeditions are given along with collecting data provided by the second author

Construction, Characterization, and Preliminary BAC-End Sequence Analysis of a Bacterial Artificial Chromosome Library of the Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis)

We describe the construction and characterization of a publicly available BAC library for the tea plant, Camellia sinensis. Using modified methods, the library was constructed with the aim of developing public molecular resources to advance tea plant genomics research. The library consists of a total of 401,280 clones with an average insert size of 135 kb, providing an approximate coverage of 13.5 haploid genome equivalents. No empty vector clones were observed in a random sampling of 576 BAC clones. Further analysis of 182 BAC-end sequences from randomly selected clones revealed a GC content of 40.35% and low chloroplast and mitochondrial contamination. Repetitive sequence analyses indicated that LTR retrotransposons were the most predominant sequence class (86.93%–87.24%), followed by DNA retrotransposons (11.16%–11.69%). Additionally, we found 25 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) that could potentially be used as genetic markers

Is pupillary dilation affecting your automated perimetry results?

The effects of active pupillary dilation on automated static threshold perimetry were studied in twenty-three normal subjects using the Humphrey field analyzer and the 30-2, STATPAC, and FASTPAC programs. A decrease in foveal threshold of 1.95 decibels (P = 0.0081), a mean deviation loss of 1.15 decibels (P = 0.000 1), a decrease in short-term fluctuation (SF) of 0.19 decibels (P = 0.0423), and a decrease in the SF2 of 0.56 decibels (P = 0.0374) were found in dilated fields as compared with baseline visual fields in the first eye tested. A decrease in foveal threshold of 2.56 decibels (P = 0.0081) and a mean deviation loss of 1.43 decibels (P = 0.0001) were found in dilated fields as compared with baseline visual fields in the second eye tested. These findings indicate that active pupillary dilation in healthy subjects produces statistically significant differences, although these differences may not be clinically significant. To insure repeatable visual fields, consistent pupil diameter should be controlled in serial visual field testing

Correlation Between Q-Angle, Arch Index, and Weight Distribution Dependent on Supination and Pronation While Walking

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Boundary State from Ellwood Invariants

Boundary states are given by appropriate linear combinations of Ishibashi states. Starting from any OSFT solution and assuming Ellwood conjecture we show that every coefficient of such a linear combination is given by an Ellwood invariant, computed in a slightly modified theory where it does not trivially vanish by the on-shell condition. Unlike the previous construction of Kiermaier, Okawa and Zwiebach, ours is linear in the string field, it is manifestly gauge invariant and it is also suitable for solutions known only numerically. The correct boundary state is readily reproduced in the case of known analytic solutions and, as an example, we compute the energy momentum tensor of the rolling tachyon from the generalized invariants of the corresponding solution. We also compute the energy density profile of Siegel-gauge multiple lump solutions and show that, as the level increases, it correctly approaches a sum of delta functions. This provides a gauge invariant way of computing the separations between the lower dimensional D-branes.Comment: v2: 63 pages, 14 figures. Major improvements in section 2. Version published in JHE

Transposable element distribution, abundance and role in genome size variation in the genus Oryza

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The genus <it>Oryza </it>is composed of 10 distinct genome types, 6 diploid and 4 polyploid, and includes the world's most important food crop – rice (<it>Oryza sativa </it>[AA]). Genome size variation in the <it>Oryza </it>is more than 3-fold and ranges from 357 Mbp in <it>Oryza glaberrima </it>[AA] to 1283 Mbp in the polyploid <it>Oryza ridleyi </it>[HHJJ]. Because repetitive elements are known to play a significant role in genome size variation, we constructed random sheared small insert genomic libraries from 12 representative <it>Oryza </it>species and conducted a comprehensive study of the repetitive element composition, distribution and phylogeny in this genus. Particular attention was paid to the role played by the most important classes of transposable elements (Long Terminal Repeats Retrotransposons, Long interspersed Nuclear Elements, helitrons, DNA transposable elements) in shaping these genomes and in their contributing to genome size variation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified the elements primarily responsible for the most strikingly genome size variation in <it>Oryza</it>. We demonstrated how Long Terminal Repeat retrotransposons belonging to the same families have proliferated to very different extents in various species. We also showed that the pool of Long Terminal Repeat Retrotransposons is substantially conserved and ubiquitous throughout the <it>Oryza </it>and so its origin is ancient and its existence predates the speciation events that originated the genus. Finally we described the peculiar behavior of repeats in the species <it>Oryza coarctata </it>[HHKK] whose placement in the <it>Oryza </it>genus is controversial.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Long Terminal Repeat retrotransposons are the major component of the <it>Oryza </it>genomes analyzed and, along with polyploidization, are the most important contributors to the genome size variation across the <it>Oryza </it>genus. Two families of Ty3-<it>gypsy </it>elements (<it>RIRE2 </it>and <it>Atlantys</it>) account for a significant portion of the genome size variations present in the <it>Oryza </it>genus.</p

The pleistocene species pump past its prime:Evidence from European butterfly sister species

This is the final version. Available on open access from Wiley via the DOI in this recordData availability statement: Read data are available from the ENA at PRJEB43082. Sequence alignments for the COI barcode locus were obtained from the dataset DS-EUGENMAP (dx.doi.org/10.5883/DS-EUGENMAP) on BOLD at www.boldsystems.org and were originally produced by Dincӑ et al., (2021). The script used for calculating diversity and divergence is available at https://github.com/samebdon/orthodiver/blob/master/orthodiver.py.The Pleistocene glacial cycles had a profound impact on the ranges and genetic make-up of organisms. Whilst it is clear that the contact zones that have been described for many sister taxa are secondary and have formed during the last interglacial, it is unclear when the taxa involved began to diverge. Previous estimates based on small numbers of loci are unreliable given the stochasticity of genetic drift and the contrasting effects of incomplete lineage sorting and gene flow on gene divergence. Here we use genome-wide transcriptome data to estimate divergence for 18 sister species pairs of European butterflies showing either sympatric or contact zone distributions. We find that in most cases species divergence predates the mid-Pleistocene transition or even the entire Pleistocene period. We also show that although post divergence gene flow is restricted to contact zone pairs, they are not systematically younger than sympatric pairs. This suggests that contact zones are not limited to the initial stages of the speciation process, but can involve notably old taxa. Finally, we show that mitochondrial and nuclear divergence are only weakly correlated and mitochondrial divergence is higher for contact-zone pairs.Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)European Union Horizon 202

Uncertainties and opportunities in delivering environmentally sustainable surgery:the surgeons' view

Surgery is a carbon‐heavy activity and creates a high volume of waste. Surgical teams around the world want to deliver more environmentally sustainable surgery but are unsure what to do and how to create change. There are many interventions available, but resources and time are limited. Capital investment into healthcare and engagement of senior management are challenging. However, frontline teams can change behaviours and drive wider change. Patients have a voice here too, as they would like to ensure their surgery does not harm their local community but are concerned about the effects on them when changes are made. Environmentally sustainable surgery is at the start of its journey. Surgeons need to rapidly upskill their generic knowledge base, identify which measures they can implement locally and take part in national research programmes. Surgical teams in the NHS have the chance to create a world‐leading programme that can bring change to hospitals around the world. This article provides an overview of how surgeons see the surgical team being involved in environmentally sustainable surgery

DNA methylation changes facilitated evolution of genes derived from Mutator-like transposable elements

Supplementary file S2. Accession numbers and URLs for genome assembly, transcriptome and methylome data that used in this project. (DOCX 101 kb