The effects of eccentric, velocity-based training on strength and power in collegiate athletes

International Journal of Exercise Science 9(5): 657-666, 2016. The purpose of this study was to determine if combining velocity-based training with eccentric focus (VEB) and velocity-based training (VBT) results in power and strength gains. Nineteen men and women collegiate track and field athletes participated in this study. The subjects completed a 12-week intervention with either a VEB program or a VBT program. To determine the effectiveness of each program, the subjects completed four exercise tests before and after the training period: vertical jump, medicine ball put test, 1RM projected bench press and 1RM projected squat. There were no significant differences between the VBT results and the VEB results. However, there were significant improvements between the pre-test and post-test measures for each group. There were increases in 1RM projected squat for VEB men, VBT men, and VBT women. There were also significant improvements in the VEB male vertical jump and medicine ball put test pre- to post- intervention. For track and field athletes, both programs may result in strength and power gains, however, the results cannot be used to conclude that one resistance training program is superior

Entwicklung und Anwendung molekularer und informatorischer Werkzeuge für das genetische Monitoring bei Wildrüben

Development and application of molecular and bioinformatic tools for the genetic monitoring ofwild beets.ZusammenfassungWildlebende Verwandte der Kulturpflanzen (WVK) sind wirtschaftlich wichtige pflanzengenetische Ressourcen (PGR) für die Pflanzenzüchtung. Ein Konzept, solche PGR im natürlichen Habitat (in situ) zu erhalten, ist das genetische Schutzareal. Durch diese Technik ist es möglich, innerartliche Vielfalt zu erhalten und die Entstehung neuer Diversität zu ermöglichen. Das Konzept des genetischen Schutzareals wird an der Gattung Beta im Rahmen des vom Julius Kühn-Institut koordinierten EU-Projekts AEGRO angewendet, erprobt und weiterentwickelt. B. patula (Ait.) (BP) und B. vulgaris (L.) maritima (Arcang.) (BVM) werden dabei als Modellarten genutzt. Beide Spezies sind wichtige PGR für die Zuckerrübenzüchtung. BP ist eine seltene und gefährdete Art mit einem sehr begrenzten Verbreitungsgebiet. Im Gegensatz dazu ist BVM weitverbreitet und kommt u. a. an den Küsten Westeuropas vor. In Folge des globalen Klimawandels wird eine nach Norden gerichtete Migrationsbewegung dieser Unterart erwartet. Basierend auf den durch vorliegende Arbeit geschaffenen Grundlagen soll zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt die Auswirkung dieser Migrationsbewegung auf die genetische Diversität ermittelt werden. Insgesamt wurden 557 Einzelpflanzen von 14 Sammelorten mit jeweils 25 SSR-Markern (Simple Sequence Repeat Marker) untersucht. Zusätzlich wurde eine Datenbank zur Unterstützung des genetischen Monitorings modelliert und implementiert, um die erhobenen Labor- und Felddaten in strukturierter und gut dokumentierter Form für die Auswertung von Zeitserien langfristig in hoher Qualität verfügbar zu halten. Erstmalig wird die geographische Verteilung der genetischen Diversität von BP beschrieben und eine Empfehlung für die Ausweisung eines genetischen Schutzareals für BP gegeben. Auch das Wissen um die geographische Verteilung genetischer Diversität bei BVM wurde weiter vertieft. Stichworte: Wildrüben, SSR-Marker, wildlebende Verwandte der Kulturpflanzen (WVK), genetisches Schutzareal AbstractCrop Wild Relatives (CWR) are an economically important plant genetic resource (PGR) for plant breeding. One strategy to conserve PGR in the natural habitat (in situ) is the genetic reserve technique. This approach protects the existing intraspecific diversity and allows, in contrast to the ex situ approaches, the emergence of new diversity. The genetic reserve conservation technique will be tested in practice with the genus Beta within the framework of the EU project AEGRO. B. patula (Ait.) (BP) and B. vulgaris (L.) maritima (Arcang.) (BVM) are used as models. Both species are important resources for sugarbeet breeding. BP is a rare and endangered species with a very limited habitat. In contrast, BVM is widespread along the shores of Western Europe. This subspecies is expected to migrate in a northward direction as a consequence of the global climate change. The impact of this migration on the genetic diversity will be examined in future analyses and will establish a basis for future research. A total of 557 plants from 14 sampling plots were analysed using 25 SSR markers (Simple Sequence Repeat markers). Additionally, a database was modeled and implemented to support the genetic monitoring by storing and post-processing all laboratory and field data in a well documented and structured way. This makes the data available for the analysis of time series. For the first time the geographic pattern of genetic diversity in the wild beet BP was described and decision criteria for the establishment of a genetic reserve for BP were postulated. The knowledge of geographic patterns of genetic diversity in the wild beet BVM was consolidated as a baseline for further investigations on the potential influence of climate changes and the corresponding geographic range shift on genetic diversity. Keywords: Wild beet, SSR markers, Crop Wild Relatives (CWR), genetic reserve conservationtechniqu

Report of a Network Coordinating Group on Sugar, Starch and Fibre Crops: Third meeting, 8-9 October 2009, Quedlinburg, Germany

Report of the third meeting of the ECPGR Network Coordinating Group on Sugar, Starch and Fibre Crops, 8-9 October 2009, Quedlinburg, German

On the sustainable use and conservation of plant genetic resources in Europe. Report from Work Package 5 “Engaging the user Community” of the

PGR Secure project , a collaborative project funded under the EU Seventh Framework Programme, THEME KBBE.2010.1.1-03, 'Characterization of biodiversity resources for wild crop relatives to improve crops by breeding', Grant agreement no. 266394.

Engineering enzymes with non-canonical active site functionality

The combination of computational enzyme design and laboratory evolution provides an attractive platform for the creation of protein catalysts with new function. To date, designed mechanisms have relied upon Nature’s alphabet of 20 genetically encoded amino acids, which greatly restricts the range of functionality which can be installed into enzyme active sites. Here, we have exploited engineered components of the cellular translation machinery to create a protein catalyst which operates via a non-canonical catalytic nucleophile. We have subsequently shown that powerful laboratory evolution protocols can be readily adapted to allow optimization of enzymes containing non-canonical active site functionality. Crystal structures obtained along the evolutionary trajectory highlight the origins of improved activity. Thus our approach merges beneficial features of organo- and biocatalysis, by combining the intrinsic reactivities and greater versatility of small molecule catalysts with the rate enhancements, reaction selectivities and evolvability of proteins. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Increasing human motor skill acquisition by driving theta-gamma coupling

Skill learning is a fundamental adaptive process, but the mechanisms remain poorly understood. Some learning paradigms, particularly in the memory domain, are closely associated with gamma activity that is amplitude-modulated by the phase of underlying theta activity, but whether such nested activity patterns also underpin skill learning is unknown. Here we addressed this question by using transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) over sensorimotor cortex to modulate theta-gamma activity during motor skill acquisition, as an exemplar of a non-hippocampal-dependent task. We demonstrated, and then replicated, a significant improvement in skill acquisition with theta-gamma tACS, which outlasted the stimulation by an hour. Our results suggest that theta-gamma activity may be a common mechanism for learning across the brain and provides a putative novel intervention for optimising functional improvements in response to training or therapy

Persistence of Supplemented Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis EVC001 in Breastfed Infants.

Attempts to alter intestinal dysbiosis via administration of probiotics have consistently shown that colonization with the administered microbes is transient. This study sought to determine whether provision of an initial course of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis (B. infantis) would lead to persistent colonization of the probiotic organism in breastfed infants. Mothers intending to breastfeed were recruited and provided with lactation support. One group of mothers fed B. infantis EVC001 to their infants from day 7 to day 28 of life (n = 34), and the second group did not administer any probiotic (n = 32). Fecal samples were collected during the first 60 postnatal days in both groups. Fecal samples were assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, quantitative PCR, mass spectrometry, and endotoxin measurement. B. infantis-fed infants had significantly higher populations of fecal Bifidobacteriaceae, in particular B. infantis, while EVC001 was fed, and this difference persisted more than 30 days after EVC001 supplementation ceased. Fecal milk oligosaccharides were significantly lower in B. infantis EVC001-fed infants, demonstrating higher consumption of human milk oligosaccharides by B. infantis EVC001. Concentrations of acetate and lactate were significantly higher and fecal pH was significantly lower in infants fed EVC001, demonstrating alterations in intestinal fermentation. Infants colonized by Bifidobacteriaceae at high levels had 4-fold-lower fecal endotoxin levels, consistent with observed lower levels of Gram-negative Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. IMPORTANCE The gut microbiome in early life plays an important role for long-term health and is shaped in large part by diet. Probiotics may contribute to improvements in health, but they have not been shown to alter the community composition of the gut microbiome. Here, we found that breastfed infants could be stably colonized at high levels by provision of B. infantis EVC001, with significant changes to the overall microbiome composition persisting more than a month later, whether the infants were born vaginally or by caesarean section. This observation is consistent with previous studies demonstrating the capacity of this subspecies to utilize human milk glycans as a nutrient and underscores the importance of pairing a probiotic organism with a specific substrate. Colonization by B. infantis EVC001 resulted in significant changes to fecal microbiome composition and was associated with improvements in fecal biochemistry. The combination of human milk and an infant-associated Bifidobacterium sp. shows, for the first time, that durable changes to the human gut microbiome are possible and are associated with improved gut function

Efeitos de diferentes níveis de desfolha nos estádios vegetativo e reprodutivo sobre desenvolvimento da cultura da soja.

JIPE 2013