Framing research at the tourism and terrorism nexus

Given the rising significance of terrorism and its implications on international tourism, future tourism research will certainly intensify its focus on this particular type of crisis. To assist future research in this area, this article analyzes the evolution of research at the tourism and terrorism nexus. On the one hand, a classical bibliometric analysis of journal articles on "tourism" and "terrorism" is conducted, thereby not narrowing the focus exclusively to journals from the fields of travel, tourism and hospitality. On the other hand, qualitative content analysis and quantitative multiple correspondence analysis are paired to map this detailed research area. For this purpose, the HOMALS (analysis by means of altering least square) procedure was used. The results of this analysis create a valuable overview of the current state of research in this, unfortunately, topical area of research. Obzirom na sve veći značaj i utjecaj terorizma na međunarodni turizam, buduća će se istraživanja u turizmu zasigurno pojačano usredotočiti na ovu posebnu vrstu krize. U ovom se članku analizira evolucija istraživanja na poveznici turizma i terorizma kako bi se potakla buduća istraživanja u ovom području. S jedne strane, provedena je klasična bibliometrijska analiza članaka u časopisima na temu „turizam“ i „terorizam“ a da se pri tomu fokus nije sužavao isključivo na časopise iz područja putovanja, turizma i ugostiteljstva. S druge strane, uparene su kvalitativna analiza sadržaja i kvanti-tativna višestruka korespondencijska analiza kako bi se opisalo ovo specifično područje istraživanja. U tu svrhu se rabila procedura HOMALS (analiza homogenosti metodom najmanjeg kvadrata). Ova je analiza rezultirala vrijednim pregledom trenutnog stanja istraživanja u ovom, nažalost, aktualnom istraživačkom području

Fibrogenic Disorders in Human Diseases: From Inflammation to Organ Dysfunction.

Fibrosis is an inadequate response to tissue stress with very few therapeutic options to prevent its progression to organ dysfunction. There is an urgent need to identify drugs with a therapeutic potential for fibrosis, either by designing and developing new compounds or by repurposing drugs already in clinical use which were developed for other indications. In this Perspective, we summarize some pathways and biological targets involved in fibrosis development and maintenance, focusing on common mechanisms between organs and diseases. We review the therapeutic agents under experimental development, clinical trials, or in clinical use for the treatment of fibrotic disorders, evaluating the reasons for the discrepancies observed between preclinical and clinical results. We also discuss the improvement that we envision in the development of therapeutic molecules able to achieve improved potential for treatment, including indirect modulators, targeting approaches, or drug combinations

CYP1A2 genotype and acute effects of caffeine on resistance exercise, jumping, and sprinting performance

Background It has been suggested that polymorphisms within CYP1A2 impact inter-individual variation in the response to caffeine. The purpose of this study was to explore the acute effects of caffeine on resistance exercise, jumping, and sprinting performance in a sample of resistance-trained men, and to examine the influence of genetic variation of CYP1A2 (rs762551) on the individual variation in responses to caffeine ingestion. Methods Twenty-two men were included as participants (AA homozygotes n = 13; C-allele carriers n = 9) and were tested after the ingestion of caffeine (3 mg/kg of body mass) and a placebo. Exercise performance was assessed with the following outcomes: (a) movement velocity and power output in the bench press exercise with loads of 25, 50, 75, and 90% of one-repetition maximum (1RM); (b) quality and quantity of performed repetitions in the bench press exercise performed to muscular failure with 85% 1RM; (c) vertical jump height in a countermovement jump test; and (d) power output in a Wingate test. Results Compared to placebo, caffeine ingestion enhanced: (a) movement velocity and power output across all loads (effect size [ES]: 0.20–0.61; p <  0.05 for all); (b) the quality and quantity of performed repetitions with 85% of 1RM (ES: 0.27–0.85; p <  0.001 for all); (c) vertical jump height (ES: 0.15; p = 0.017); and (d) power output in the Wingate test (ES: 0.33–0.44; p <  0.05 for all). We did not find a significant genotype × caffeine interaction effect (p-values ranged from 0.094 to 0.994) in any of the analyzed performance outcomes. Conclusions Resistance-trained men may experience acute improvements in resistance exercise, jumping, and sprinting performance following the ingestion of caffeine. The comparisons of the effects of caffeine on exercise performance between individuals with the AA genotype and AC/CC genotypes found no significant differences. Trial registratio

The implications of a Silurian and other thylacocephalan crustaceans for the functional morphology and systematic affinities of the group

Background: Thylacocephala is a group of enigmatic extinct arthropods. Here we provide a full description of the oldest unequivocal thylacocephalan, a new genus and species Thylacares brandonensis, which is present in the Silurian Waukesha fauna from Wisconsin, USA. We also present details of younger, Jurassic specimens, from the Solnhofen lithographic limestones, which are crucial to our interpretation of the systematic position of Thylacocephala. In the past, Thylacocephala has been interpreted as a crustacean ingroup and as closely related to various groups such as cirripeds, decapods or remipeds. Results: The Waukesha thylacocephalan, Thylacares brandonensis n. gen. n. sp., bears compound eyes and raptorial appendages that are relatively small compared to those of other representatives of the group. As in other thylacocephalans the large bivalved shield encloses much of the entire body. The shield lacks a marked optical notch. The eyes, which project just beyond the shield margin, appear to be stalked. Head appendages, which may represent antennulae, antennae and mandibles, appear to be present. The trunk is comprised of up to 22 segments. New details observed on thylacocephalans from the Jurassic Solnhofen lithographic limestones include antennulae and antennae of Mayrocaris bucculata, and endites on the raptorial appendages and an elongate last trunk appendage in Clausocaris lithographica. Preserved features of the internal morphology in C. lithographica include the muscles of the raptorial appendage and trunk. Conclusions: Our results indicate that some `typical' thylacocephalan characters are unique to the group; these autapomorphies contribute to the difficulty of determining thylacocephalan affinities. While the new features reported here are consistent with a eucrustacean affinity, most previous hypotheses for the position of Thylacocephala within Eucrustacea (as Stomatopoda, Thecostraca or Decapoda) are shown to be unlikely. A sister group relationship to Remipedia appears compatible with the observed features of Thylacocephala but more fossil evidence is required to test this assertion. The raptorial appendages of Thylacocephala most likely projected 45 degrees abaxially instead of directly forward as previously reconstructed. The overall morphology of thylacocephalans supports a predatory mode of life

Differential Effects of the Mitochondria-Active Tetrapeptide SS-31 (D-Arg-dimethylTyr-Lys-Phe-NH₂) and Its Peptidase-Targeted Prodrugs in Experimental Acute Kidney Injury.

The mitochondria-active tetrapeptide SS-31 can control oxidative tissue damage in kidney diseases. To investigate other potential beneficial nephroprotective effects of SS-31, in vivo murine models of acute tubular injury and glomerular damage were developed. Reduction of acute kidney injury was demonstrated in mice treated with SS-31. The expression of mRNAs involved in acute inflammatory and oxidative stress responses in the diseased kidneys confirmed that SS-31 could regulate these pathways in our in vivo models. Furthermore, ex vivo histoenzymography of mouse kidneys showed that aminopeptidase A (APA), the enzyme involved in the processing of angiotensin (Ang) II to Ang III, was induced in the diseased kidneys, and its activity was inhibited by SS-31. As the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is a main regulator of kidney functions, the modulation of Ang receptors (ATR) and APA by SS-31 was further investigated using mRNAs extracted from diseased kidneys. Following acute tubular and/or glomerular damage, the expression of the AT &lt;sub&gt;1&lt;/sub&gt; R mRNA was upregulated, which could be selectively downregulated upon SS-31 administration to the animals. At the same time, SS-31 was able to increase the expression of the AT &lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; R, which may contribute to limit renal damage. Consequently, SS-31-based prodrugs were developed as substrates and/or inhibitors for APA and were screened using cells expressing high levels of APA, showing its selective regulation by α-Glu-SS-31. Thus, a link between SS-31 and the RAS opens new therapeutic implications for SS-31 in kidney diseases

The Effects of Caffeine Ingestion on Measures of Rowing Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The purpose of this paper was to conduct a systematic review and a meta-analysis of studies examining the acute effects of caffeine ingestion on measures of rowing performance. Crossover and placebo-controlled experiments that investigated the effects of caffeine ingestion on measures of rowing performance were included. The PEDro checklist was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Seven studies of good and excellent methodological quality were included. None of the included studies examined on-water rowing. The majority of studies that were included in the meta-analysis used a 2000m rowing distance with only one using 1000m distance. Results of the main meta-analysis indicated that caffeine enhances performance on a rowing ergometer compared to placebo with a mean difference of −4.1 s (95% confidence interval (CI): −6.4, −1.8 s). These values remained consistent in the analysis in which the study that used a 1000m distance was excluded (mean difference: −4.3 s; 95% CI: −6.9, −1.8 s). We also found a significant increase in mean power (mean difference: 5.7 W; 95% CI: 2.1, 9.3 W) and minute ventilation (mean difference: 3.4 L/min; 95% CI: 1.7, 5.1 L/min) following caffeine ingestion. No significant differences between caffeine and placebo were found for the rating of perceived exertion, oxygen consumption, respiratory exchange ratio, and heart rate. This meta-analysis found that acute caffeine ingestion improves 2000m rowing ergometer performance by ~4 s. Our results support the use of caffeine pre-exercise as an ergogenic aid for rowing performance

Strength and conditioning practices in rowing

There is limited published research on the practices of strength and conditioning (S &C) coaches in Great Britain. Information about training program design would be useful in developing models of good practice and ecologically valid intervention studies. The aim of this research was to quantify the training practices of coaches responsible for the S&C of rowing athletes. A questionnaire was developed that consisted of 6 sections: (a) personal details, (b) physical testing, (c) strength and power development, (d) flexibility development, (e) unique aspects of the program, and (f) any further relevant comments regarding the athletes prescribed training program. Twenty-two rowing and 10 S&C coaches with an average of 10.5 ± 7.2 years' experience agreed to complete the questionnaire. Approximately, 34% coached rowers of Olympic standard, 34% coached national standard, 3% coached regional standard, 19% coached club standard, and 10% coached university standard rowers. All coaches agreed that strength training enhanced rowing performance and the majority (74%) indicated that athletes' strength trained 2-3 times a week. Almost all coaches (94%) reported their rowers performed strength training, with 81% using Olympic lifting, and 91% employing a periodized training model. The clean (63%) and squat (27%) were rated the most important prescribed exercises. Approximately 50% of coaches used plyometrics such as depth jumps, box drills, and standing jumps. Ninety-four percent indicated they conducted physical testing on their rowers, typically assessing cardiovascular endurance (80%), muscular power (70%), muscular strength (70%), and anaerobic capacity (57%). This research represents the only published survey to date on the S&C practices in rowing within Great Britain