Variations of training load, monotony, and strain and dose-response relationships with maximal aerobic speed, maximal oxygen uptake, and isokinetic strength in professional soccer players

This study aimed to identify variations in weekly training load, training monotony, and training strain across a 10-week period (during both, pre- and in-season phases); and to analyze the dose-response relationships between training markers and maximal aerobic speed (MAS), maximal oxygen uptake, and isokinetic strength. Twenty-seven professional soccer players (24.9±3.5 years old) were monitored across the 10-week period using global positioning system units. Players were also tested for maximal aerobic speed, maximal oxygen uptake, and isokinetic strength before and after 10 weeks of training. Large positive correlations were found between sum of training load and extension peak torque in the right lower limb (r = 0.57, 90%CI[0.15;0.82]) and the ratio agonist/antagonist in the right lower limb (r = 0.51, [0.06;0.78]). It was observed that loading measures fluctuated across the period of the study and that the load was meaningfully associated with changes in the fitness status of players. However, those magnitudes of correlations were small-to-large, suggesting that variations in fitness level cannot be exclusively explained by the accumulated load and loading profile

The Cell Cycle Regulated Transcriptome of Trypanosoma brucei

Progression of the eukaryotic cell cycle requires the regulation of hundreds of genes to ensure that they are expressed at the required times. Integral to cell cycle progression in yeast and animal cells are temporally controlled, progressive waves of transcription mediated by cell cycle-regulated transcription factors. However, in the kinetoplastids, a group of early-branching eukaryotes including many important pathogens, transcriptional regulation is almost completely absent, raising questions about the extent of cell-cycle regulation in these organisms and the mechanisms whereby regulation is achieved. Here, we analyse gene expression over the Trypanosoma brucei cell cycle, measuring changes in mRNA abundance on a transcriptome-wide scale. We developed a “double-cut” elutriation procedure to select unperturbed, highly synchronous cell populations from log-phase cultures, and compared this to synchronization by starvation. Transcriptome profiling over the cell cycle revealed the regulation of at least 430 genes. While only a minority were homologous to known cell cycle regulated transcripts in yeast or human, their functions correlated with the cellular processes occurring at the time of peak expression. We searched for potential target sites of RNA-binding proteins in these transcripts, which might earmark them for selective degradation or stabilization. Over-represented sequence motifs were found in several co-regulated transcript groups and were conserved in other kinetoplastids. Furthermore, we found evidence for cell-cycle regulation of a flagellar protein regulon with a highly conserved sequence motif, bearing similarity to consensus PUF-protein binding motifs. RNA sequence motifs that are functional in cell-cycle regulation were more widespread than previously expected and conserved within kinetoplastids. These findings highlight the central importance of post-transcriptional regulation in the proliferation of parasitic kinetoplastids

Trypanosoma brucei PUF9 Regulates mRNAs for Proteins Involved in Replicative Processes over the Cell Cycle

Many genes that are required at specific points in the cell cycle exhibit cell cycle–dependent expression. In the early-diverging model eukaryote and important human pathogen Trypanosoma brucei, regulation of gene expression in the cell cycle and other processes is almost entirely post-transcriptional. Here, we show that the T. brucei RNA-binding protein PUF9 stabilizes certain transcripts during S-phase. Target transcripts of PUF9—LIGKA, PNT1 and PNT2—were identified by affinity purification with TAP-tagged PUF9. RNAi against PUF9 caused an accumulation of cells in G2/M phase and unexpectedly destabilized the PUF9 target mRNAs, despite the fact that most known Puf-domain proteins promote degradation of their target mRNAs. The levels of the PUF9-regulated transcripts were cell cycle dependent, peaking in mid- to late- S-phase, and this effect was abolished when PUF9 was targeted by RNAi. The sequence UUGUACC was over-represented in the 3′ UTRs of PUF9 targets; a point mutation in this motif abolished PUF9-dependent stabilization of a reporter transcript carrying the PNT1 3′ UTR. LIGKA is involved in replication of the kinetoplast, and here we show that PNT1 is also kinetoplast-associated and its over-expression causes kinetoplast-related defects, while PNT2 is localized to the nucleus in G1 phase and redistributes to the mitotic spindle during mitosis. PUF9 targets may constitute a post-transcriptional regulon, encoding proteins involved in temporally coordinated replicative processes in early G2 phase

Regulation of Trypanosoma brucei Total and Polysomal mRNA during Development within Its Mammalian Host

This work was supported by a Wellcome Trust Programme grant to KM and by a Wellcome Trust Strategic award to the Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution at the University of Edinburgh. SM was supported by a studentship from the Medical Research Council, UK.The gene expression of Trypanosoma brucei has been examined extensively in the blood of mammalian hosts and in forms found in the midgut of its arthropod vector, the tsetse fly. However, trypanosomes also undergo development within the mammalian bloodstream as they progress from morphologically 'slender forms' to transmissible 'stumpy forms' through morphological intermediates. This transition is temporally progressive within the first wave of parasitaemia such that gene expression can be monitored in relatively pure slender and stumpy populations as well as during the progression between these extremes. The development also represents the progression of cells from translationally active forms adapted for proliferation in the host to translationally quiescent forms, adapted for transmission. We have used metabolic labelling to quantitate translational activity in slender forms, stumpy forms and in forms undergoing early differentiation to procyclic forms in vitro. Thereafter we have examined the cohort of total mRNAs that are enriched throughout development in the mammalian bloodstream (slender, intermediate and stumpy forms), irrespective of strain, revealing those that exhibit consistent developmental regulation rather than sample specific changes. Transcripts that cosediment with polysomes in stumpy forms and slender forms have also been enriched to identify transcripts that escape translational repression prior to transmission. Combined, the expression and polysomal association of transcripts as trypanosomes undergo development in the mammalian bloodstream have been defined, providing a resource for trypanosome researchers. This facilitates the identification of those that undergo developmental regulation in the bloodstream and therefore those likely to have a role in the survival and capacity for transmission of stumpy forms.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Pesquisa sobre Condições de Saúde Bucal da População Brasileira (SBBrasil 2003): determinação dos pesos amostrais e das informações estruturais da amostra The Brazilian Oral Health Survey (SBBrasil 2003): determining sample weights and structural information

Este é um artigo de amostragem probabilística cujo objetivo foi descrever os métodos usados para calcular e calibrar os pesos amostrais da Pesquisa sobre Condições de Saúde Bucal da População Brasileira (SBBrasil 2003) e identificar as demais variáveis estruturais do desenho da amostra. Apresenta uma síntese do trabalho de resgate das informações cadastrais usadas para seleção das unidades amostrais nos municípios amostrados. Descreve os principais problemas observados no banco de dados da pesquisa, que compuseram o conjunto de condicionantes para cálculo dos pesos naturais do desenho e para determinação das unidades primárias de amostragem e dos estratos de seleção. Por fim, compara algumas estimativas, obtidas por meio de pesos e demais variáveis estruturais da amostra, com as estatísticas amostrais descritivas publicadas, concluindo que as condições de saúde bucal da população brasileira eram melhores do que as divulgadas anteriormente.<br>This is an article on probability sampling written to describe the methods used to calculate and calibrate sample weights of the Brazilian Oral Health Survey (SBBrasil 2003) and identify sample structural variables. It presents an overview of the efforts made to retrieve information from the records used to select the sample units in the sampled municipalities and describes the main problems observed with the survey's database, that acted as constraints tocal culating the natural sample weights and identifying primary sampling units and selection strata. It compares weighted sample estimates with previously published unweighted sample descriptive statistics, concluding that the oral health of the Brazilian population was better than previously disclosed

Caracterização da silagem de milho, produzida em propriedades rurais do sudoeste do Paraná

O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar a produção e utilização da silagem, nos sistemas produtivos, em propriedades leiteiras do sudoeste do Paraná. A coleta dos dados foi realizada de março a maio de 2009, em propriedades produtoras de leite, em sete municípios paranaenses, totalizando 108 propriedades visitadas. O questionário, de caráter qualiquantitativo, compreendia 28 questões pré-definidas. A produção leiteira pode ser ampliada pela utilização de técnicas de manejo, como a escolha correta do híbrido e o planejamento e escalonamento adequado da semeadura. A região sudoeste do Paraná caracteriza-se por apresentar pequenas propriedades rurais (agricultura familiar), com 15,65 vacas em lactação e 17,2 litros de leite/dia, em média, e que armazenam a silagem em silos trincheira, em sua maioria. As lavouras cultivadas para confecção de silagem produzem em média 40 a 50 ton ha-1 de matéria verde. Além disso, os principais híbridos utilizados para a confecção da silagem são do grupo semi-duro e precoce, com sementes certificadas e tratadas