Psychological evaluation in golf: the athlete’s adaptation in stress situations

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi estudar o processo de adaptação de golfistas às situações de estresse competitivo. Trinta e um atletas de golfe brasileiros, todos membros de algum clube de golfe no Estado de São Paulo, e pertencentes à Federação Paulista de Golfe, participaram desse estudo descritivo. O instrumento foi o guia de Entrevista de Avaliação Psicológica de Atletas: Gestão de Stress (EAPA-GS), seguindo o modelo Transacional Cognitivo, Motivacional e Relacional de Lazarus aos contextos esportivos. Os resultados foram apresentados de acordo com as faixas de rendimento esportivo. Assim, os principais fatores de estresse no grupo chamado de bem-sucedidos se relacionaram com erros técnicos, com os atletas tendendo a usar estratégias de enfrentamento focadas na resolução do problema. Também foi registrado um significativo número de reações emocionais negativas.The aim of the current study was to investigate golfers’ processes of adapting to a competitive stress. Thirty-one Brazilian golfers, all members of a golf club in São Paulo State, and belonging at “Federação Paulista de Golfe”, participated in this descriptive study with data analysis based on the Lazarus’ CognitiveMotivational-Relational Theory. The results were presented according to the sports performance ranges. Thus, the main stressors in the so-called successful group were related to the technical errors, with athletes tending to use coping strategies focused on solving the problem. In addition, a significant number of negative emotional reactions to stress were observed

Abnormal Wnt and PI3Kinase Signaling in the Malformed Intestine of lama5 Deficient Mice

Laminins are major constituents of basement membranes and are essential for tissue homeostasis. Laminin-511 is highly expressed in the intestine and its absence causes severe malformation of the intestine and embryonic lethality. To understand the mechanistic role of laminin-511 in tissue homeostasis, we used RNA profiling of embryonic intestinal tissue of lama5 knockout mice and identified a lama5 specific gene expression signature. By combining cell culture experiments with mediated knockdown approaches, we provide a mechanistic link between laminin α5 gene deficiency and the physiological phenotype. We show that laminin α5 plays a crucial role in both epithelial and mesenchymal cell behavior by inhibiting Wnt and activating PI3K signaling. We conclude that conflicting signals are elicited in the absence of lama5, which alter cell adhesion, migration as well as epithelial and muscle differentiation. Conversely, adhesion to laminin-511 may serve as a potent regulator of known interconnected PI3K/Akt and Wnt signaling pathways. Thus deregulated adhesion to laminin-511 may be instrumental in diseases such as human pathologies of the gut where laminin-511 is abnormally expressed as it is shown here

Proteomic characterization of HIV-modulated membrane receptors, kinases and signaling proteins involved in novel angiogenic pathways

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), hemangioma, and other angioproliferative diseases are highly prevalent in HIV-infected individuals. While KS is etiologically linked to the human herpesvirus-8 (HHV8) infection, HIV-patients without HHV-8 and those infected with unrelated viruses also develop angiopathies. Further, HIV-Tat can activate protein-tyrosine-kinase (PTK-activity) of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor involved in stimulating angiogenic processes. However, Tat by itself or HHV8-genes alone cannot induce angiogenesis <it>in vivo </it>unless specific proteins/enzymes are produced synchronously by different cell-types. We therefore tested a hypothesis that <it>chronic </it>HIV-<it>replication in non-endothelial cells </it>may produce novel factors that provoke angiogenic pathways.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Genome-wide proteins from HIV-infected and uninfected T-lymphocytes were tested by subtractive proteomics analyses at various stages of virus and cell growth <it>in vitro </it>over a period of two years. Several thousand differentially regulated proteins were identified by mass spectrometry (MS) and >200 proteins were confirmed in multiple gels. Each protein was scrutinized extensively by protein-interaction-pathways, bioinformatics, and statistical analyses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>By functional categorization, 31 proteins were identified to be associated with various signaling events involved in angiogenesis. 88% proteins were located in the plasma membrane or extracellular matrix and >90% were found to be essential for regeneration, neovascularization and angiogenic processes during embryonic development.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Chronic HIV-infection of T-cells produces membrane receptor-PTKs, serine-threonine kinases, growth factors, adhesion molecules and many diffusible signaling proteins that have not been previously reported in HIV-infected cells. Each protein has been associated with endothelial cell-growth, morphogenesis, sprouting, microvessel-formation and other biological processes involved in angiogenesis (p = 10^-4to 10^-12). Bioinformatics analyses suggest that overproduction of PTKs and other kinases in HIV-infected cells has <it>suppressed </it>VEGF/VEGFR-PTK expression and promoted <it>VEGFR-independent </it>pathways. This unique mechanism is similar to that observed in neovascularization and angiogenesis during embryogenesis. Validation of clinically relevant proteins by gene-silencing and translational studies <it>in vivo </it>would identify specific targets that can be used for early diagnosis of angiogenic disorders and future development of inhibitors of angiopathies. This is the first comprehensive study to demonstrate that HIV-infection alone, without any co-infection or treatment, can induce numerous "embryonic" proteins and kinases capable of generating novel <it>VEGF-independent </it>angiogenic pathways.</p

Functional parameters indicative of mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review using instrumented kinematic assessment

Background: Patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) experience alterations of functional parameters, such as an impaired balance or gait. The current systematic review set out to investigate whether functional objective performance may predict a future risk of MCI; to compare functional objective parameters in patients with MCI and a control group; and to assess changes in these parameters after different physical activity interventions. Methods: Electronic databases, including PubMed, AMED, CINAHL, EMBASE, PEDro and Web of Science as well as grey literature databases, were searched from inception to February 2020. Cohort studies and Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) were included. The risk of bias of the included studies was assessed independently by reviewers using quality assessment checklists. The level of evidence per outcome was assessed using the GRADE criteria. Results: Seventeen studies met inclusion criteria including patients with MCI. Results from RCTs suggested that gait speed, gait variability and balance may be improved by different physical activity interventions. Cohort studies showed that slower gait speed, above all, under Dual Task (DT) conditions, was the main impaired parameter in patients with MCI in comparison with a Control Gorup. Furthermore, cohort studies suggested that gait variability could predict an incident MCI. Although most of included cohort studies reported low risk of bias, RCTs showed an unclear risk of bias. Conclusions: Studies suggest that gait variability may predict an incident MCI. Moreover, different gait parameters, above all under DT conditions, could be impaired in patients with MCI. These parameters could be improved by some physical activity interventions. Although cohort studies reported low risk of bias, RCTs showed an unclear risk of bias and GRADE criteria showed a low level of evidence per outcome, so further studies are required to refute our findings

Dementia in Latin America : paving the way towards a regional action plan

Regional challenges faced by Latin American and Caribbean countries (LACs) to fight dementia, such as heterogeneity, diversity, political instabilities, and socioeconomic disparities, can be addressed more effectively grounded in a collaborative setting based on the open exchange of knowledge. In this work, the Latin American and Caribbean Consortium on Dementia (LAC-CD) proposes an agenda for integration to deliver a Knowledge to Action Framework (KtAF). First, we summarize evidence-based strategies (epidemiology, genetics, biomarkers, clinical trials, nonpharmacological interventions, networking and translational research) and align them to current global strategies to translate regional knowledge into actions with transformative power. Then, by characterizing genetic isolates, admixture in populations, environmental factors, and barriers to effective interventions and mapping these to the above challenges, we provide the basic mosaics of knowledge that will pave the way towards a KtAF. We describe strategies supporting the knowledge creation stage that underpins the translational impact of KtAF

Nurses' perceptions of aids and obstacles to the provision of optimal end of life care in ICU

Contains fulltext : 172380.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Dinâmicas sociais e estados de humor Social dynamics and mood states

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar as relações das dinâmicas sociais (família, amigos e escola; i.e., três fatores sociais) sobre os estados de humor. A pesquisa foi realizada com uma equipe feminina de voleibol (14/15 anos). Aplicou-se o teste POMS (Profile of Mood States) para mensurar os estados de humor. Foi utilizada uma escala de 1 (muito mal) a 5 (muito bem) para que as atletas avaliassem cada um dos três fatores. Os resultados apontaram correlações significativas entre as escalas e os estados de humor; e diferenças significativas entre os níveis de intensidade apontados na escala dos três fatores e os estados de humor. Os resultados indicam clara interferência das dinâmicas sociais sobre os estados de humor, portanto, as interferências sociais não podem ser descartadas na preparação do atleta.<br>The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of social dynamics (family, friends and school; i.e., three social factors) on mood states. The survey was conducted with a women's volleyball team (14/15 years). The POMS test (Profile of Mood States) was employed to measure the team's mood states. The athletes assessed the three factors by the use of a Likert scale ranging from 1 (very bad) to 5 (very good). Results showed significant correlations between scales and mood states, and significant differences between the intensity levels representing their moods for each of the three factors. The results show clear interference of social dynamics on the mood states. Therefore, social interference cannot be ignored during an athlete's training program

ArduSiPM technology: Compact and light All-in-one detectors for space application

ArduSiPM technology integrates System on Chip (SoC) innovation and Silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) detector improvements into a new generation of all-in-one scintillation detectors, developed by INFN Rome since 2014. To minimize reliance on pre-built Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components, we utilize the peripherals and CPU of the SoC for edge computing tasks and various functions, such as Counters, Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs), Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs), Pulse-Width modulation (PWM), and digital input/output interfaces. Our compact electronic system eliminates the need for external data acquisition systems and ASICs, while also enabling the CPU to perform edge computing functions. The detector, capable of measuring the rate, arrival time (with a resolution of 7 ns correlated to the SoC main clock), and number of photons arriving on the SiPM, is ideal for radiation monitoring and highly sensitive photon detection. The INFN MICRO experiment explores circuits and engineering solutions for developing detectors for diverse fields such as Transient Luminous Events, analytical chemistry, and nano/picosatellites. Our ultimate goal is to integrate the detector into the onboard computer of a satellite, akin to navigation instruments and attitude control systems, with future improvements in SoC technology easily leveraged thanks to our approach's independence from the specific SoC