Prediction of the Wingate anaerobic mechanical power outputs from a maximal incremental cardiopulmonary exercise stress test using machine-learning approach.

The Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) is a short-term maximal intensity cycle ergometer test, which provides anaerobic mechanical power output variables. Despite the physiological significance of the variables extracted from the WAnT, the test is very intense, and generally applies for athletes. Our goal, in this paper, was to develop a new approach to predict the anaerobic mechanical power outputs using maximal incremental cardiopulmonary exercise stress test (CPET). We hypothesized that maximal incremental exercise stress test hold hidden information about the anaerobic components, which can be directly translated into mechanical power outputs. We therefore designed a computational model that included aerobic variables (features), and used a new computational \ predictive algorithm, which enabled the prediction of the anaerobic mechanical power outputs. We analyzed the chosen predicted features using clustering on a network. For peak power (PP) and mean power (MP) outputs, the equations included six features and four features, respectively. The combination of these features produced a prediction model of r = 0.94 and r = 0.9, respectively, on the validation set between the real and predicted PP/MP values (P< 0.001). The newly predictive model allows the accurate prediction of the anaerobic mechanical power outputs at high accuracy. The assessment of additional tests is desired for the development of a robust application for athletes, older individuals, and/or non-healthy populations

The effects of a resistance vs. an aerobic single session on attention and executive functioning in adults

<div><p>Evidence from recent studies showed that acute aerobic exercise results in improvements in different cognitive functions. The goal of this study was to assess the influence of acute bouts of aerobic versus resistance exercise on attention and executive function in adults. Thirty-nine physically active adults (age = 52±8 yr) served as participants. Each participant visited the laboratory four times: on the first visit participants performed a cognitive test (NeuroTrax) followed by an aerobic fitness assessment, as well as maximal strength test composed of six exercises. During visits 2–4, participants completed the cognitive test before and after the experimental condition, which consisted of either 25 min of aerobic exercise or resistance exercise, or watching a recorded interview show in a seated position (control condition). Findings indicated significantly higher changes in scores of attention after acute aerobic exercise (mean change 3.46, 95% CI -0.32, 7.27) than following the control condition (mean change -0.64, 95% CI -2.23, 0.96). The changes following resistance exercise (mean change -0.67, 95% CI -4.47, 3.13) were not significantly different from the changes following the control condition. Executive function scores showed a marginally significant improvement following acute aerobic (mean change 4.06, 95% CI 1.68, 6.44) and resistance exercise (mean change 3.69, 95% CI 0.78, 6.60), but not after control (mean change 0.91, 95% CI -1.21, 3.02). We suggest that adults should consider augmenting both modalities into their training routines, which may improve their cognition in addition to providing other physical benefits.</p></div

Means and SDs for the executive function scores pre-test and post-test at the different sessions.

<p>Means and SDs for the executive function scores pre-test and post-test at the different sessions.</p

Means and SDs for the HR pre-test, during intervention, and post-test at the different sessions.

<p>** HR during the aerobic intervention and at post-test was significantly higher than during and at post-test of the resistance intervention and the control condition (p<0.01). * HR during the resistance intervention and at post-test was significantly higher than during at post-test of the control condition (p<0.01).</p

Means and SDs for the attention scores pre-test and post-test at the different sessions.

<p>* Changes of attention scores following aerobic exercise were significantly higher in comparison to score changes following control condition (p<0.05).</p

Demographic and clinical characteristics of participants.

<p>Demographic and clinical characteristics of participants.</p

Rearrangements in the Relative Orientation of Cytoplasmic Domains Induced by a Membrane-anchored Protein Mediate Modulations in Kv Channel Gating*

Interdomain interactions between intracellular N and C termini have been described for various K+ channels, including the voltage-gated Kv2.1, and suggested to affect channel gating. However, no channel regulatory protein directly affecting N/C interactions has been demonstrated. Most Kv2.1 channel interactions with regulatory factors occur at its C terminus. The vesicular SNARE that is also present at a high concentration in the neuronal plasma membrane, VAMP2, is the only protein documented to affect Kv2.1 gating by binding to its N terminus. As its binding target has been mapped near a site implicated in Kv2.1 N/C interactions, we hypothesized that VAMP2 binding to the N terminus requires concomitant conformational changes in the C terminus, which wraps around the N terminus from the outside, to give VAMP2 access. Here, we first determined that the Kv2.1 N terminus, although crucial, is not sufficient to convey functional interaction with VAMP2, and that, concomitant to its binding to the “docking loop” at the Kv2.1 N terminus, VAMP2 binds to the proximal part of the Kv2.1 C terminus, C1a. Next, using computational biology approaches (ab initio modeling, docking, and molecular dynamics simulations) supported by molecular biology, biochemical, electrophysiological, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer analyses, we mapped the interaction sites on both VAMP2 and Kv2.1 and found that this interaction is accompanied by rearrangements in the relative orientation of Kv2.1 cytoplasmic domains. We propose that VAMP2 modulates Kv2.1 inactivation by interfering with the interaction between the docking loop and C1a, a mechanism for gating regulation that may pertain also to other Kv channels