THE EFFECT OF A 6-WEEK INDIVIDUAL ANAEROBIC THRESHOLD BASED PROGRAMME IN A TRADITIONAL ROWING CREW

The purpose of the present study was to analyse a 6-week IAT (individual anaerobic threshold) based work load programme in a subelite rowing crew. 15 male rowers performed a 6-week IAT based work load distributed in 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 2 sessions per week. To assess each rower’s IAT training zone, the Stegmann method (22) was used. This training programme was framed in the 6-week precompetitive mesocycle (specific training period). Before and after this training programme the crew was tested in order to analyse the effects of the IAT stimuli programme. These tests were conducted at a starting work load of 100 W and increased by 40 W every 2 min until volitional exhaution. An improvement was found in cardiovascular efficiency and blood lactate concentration ([LA]) buffering capacity during all the work loads in the post-IAT training programme test (100, 140, 180, 220 and 260 W) (p<0.05). After 3 min recovery, significant differences were not observed in [LA] (NS). We conclude that the proposed training programme improves cardiovascular efficiency and [LA] buffering capacities but not the short-term recovery in a subelite traditional rowing crew

Distribution patterns of the gooseneck barnacle (Pollicipes Pollicipes [GMELINn, 1789]) in the Cantabria region (N Spain): exploring different population assessment methods

The gooseneck barnacle Pollicipes pollicipes is a very valuable marine resource on the coasts of Spain and Portugal. To maintain the sustainable exploitation of this species, periodical large-scale population assessments are essential. Because of the heterogeneous distribution of these populations in aggregates, together with the difficulties associated with sampling (i.e., access to rocky reefs, wave exposure, high tides, etc.), there is a lack of studies in this regard. In light of these constraints, the coverage, biomass, and available stock of gooseneck barnacle were first estimated using a novel semiquantitative method along a 215-km long coast at 10 fishing zones and three tidal levels. This study contributed to the first assessment of the distribution variability of gooseneck barnacle in the Cantabria region (N Spain), as the first step toward a long-term monitoring goal. The proposed method is based on a general coverage (GC) estimation, by means of (1) quantitative coverage measurements on quadrats (50 cm350 cm) located along vertical transects covering the intertidal bandwidth and corrected by tidal level bandwidths, (2) semiquantitative coverage estimates in larger areas, including 5 m on either side of the quadrats along the transect. Biomass samples were collected at each sampling point by scraping the 50 cm350 cm quadrat and fresh weight of the samples was measured. This method arrives at the biomass estimates by means of a power regression model for the coverage?biomass relationship. The population distribution pattern along the coast was also explored separately, by commonly used (1) quantitative coverage estimates in quadrats with no bandwidth correction (sample coverage, SC) and (2) semiquantitative estimates, as in the proposed method (transect coverage, TC), both of which included biomass sampling. Biomass and standing stocks values obtained using GC were lower and consumed less sampling time than those obtained by TC, and particularly SC. The results suggest that the proposed method might be suitable for the assessment of P. pollicipes populations in large coastal areas, as it potentially avoids stock overestimation by detecting the spatial distribution heterogeneity and reduces the sampling time.The main Directorate of Fisheries of Cantabria (DFC) funded this work. We wish to thank DFC technicians, fishery guards and shell-fishermen for the specific support during the fieldwork, and the colleagues from DFC, who helped us in the laboratory works

Harvesting models from web 2.0 databases

International audienceData rather than functionality are the sources of competitive advantage for Web2.0 applications such as wikis, blogs and social networking websites. This valuable information might need to be capitalized by third-party applications or be subject to migration or data analysis. Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) can be used for these purposes. However, MDE first requires obtaining models from the wiki/blog/website database (a.k.a. model harvesting). This can be achieved through SQL scripts embedded in a program. However, this approach leads to laborious code that exposes the iterations and table joins that serve to build the model. By contrast, a Domain-Specific Language (DSL) can hide these "how" concerns, leaving the designer to focus on the "what", i.e. the mapping of database schemas to model classes. This paper introduces Schemol, a DSL tailored for extracting models out of databases which considers Web2.0 specifics. Web2.0 applications are often built on top of general frameworks (a.k.a. engines) that set the database schema (e.g.,MediaWiki, Blojsom). Hence, table names offer little help in automating the extraction process. In addition, Web2.0 data tend to be annotated. User-provided data (e.g., wiki articles, blog entries) might contain semantic markups which provide helpful hints for model extraction. Unfortunately, these data end up being stored as opaque strings. Therefore, there exists a considerable conceptual gap between the source database and the target metamodel. Schemol offers extractive functions and view-like mechanisms to confront these issues. Examples using Blojsom as the blog engine are available for download

Looking for Novel Natural Gels to Improve Cleaning Methods for Bronze Leachates on Marble

Marble is one of the materials most susceptible to copper leaching, resulting in easily identifiable turquoise stains on the marble. This problem is particularly relevant when we are talking about marble structures of heritage value. For this reason, conservators look for cleaning materials that are specific to the structure to be treated without damaging the original surface. Materials such as agar have been studied for a long time. Agar creates a controlled water release system that adapts to the needs of conservators who seek the greatest possible cleanliness without damaging the material to be treated. To improve the cleaning, chelating agents such as EDTA are added to the agar composition. However, the microbiological growth and the damage it produces to the original material are disadvantages to take into account. In order to solve these problems, other natural materials with cleaning potential such as kudzu and konjac gels were studied in combination with other chelating agents such as citrate, oxalate, and gluconic acid. For the characterization and evaluation of copper cleaning, various analytical techniques were used, including Raman spectroscopy, colorimetry, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In this study, both konjac and kudzu emerged as promising alternatives to agar, revealing distinctive features such as simplified preparation methods and inherent antimicrobial properties. The EDTA chelator was found to be the most harmful for marble surfaces, as it extracted a greater amount of calcium from the marble during application of the gels doped with it. Citrate and gluconic acid have been identified as a promising substitute to prepare doped gels for the removal of copper stains. These compounds exhibit comparable or potentially superior cleaning capabilities than EDTA, with no negative side effects.This work has been supported by the project DEMORA (Grant PID2020-113391GB-I00) funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe” (EU)

Differential distribution pattern of native Ruditapes decussatus and introduced Ruditapes philippinarum clam populations in the Bay of Santander

The aim of the present study is to provide a first characterization of the grooved carpet shell clam Ruditapes decussatus (native) and the Manila clam Ruditapes phillippinarum (nonindigenous) populations in the Bay of Santander in order to improve the management of these commercially exploited resources. For this purpose a field survey was carried out in different fishing areas where samples were taken on transects, following artisanal shellfisher exploitation techniques. Biometric relationships, size frequency distributions, densities and stocks were evaluated for different fishing zones. In addition, a hydrodynamic model was applied in order to understand larval transport and recruitment patterns associated to the tidal currents and water flow. Within this context, the first evaluation of the clam populations in the Bay of Santander showed: (a) that fishing activity is performed on individuals under the minimum legal size (40 mm) and in closed areas, (b) a significant differences on density by zone (c) a distribution pattern with areas where both species coexist and areas where one of them dominates, (d) R. decussatus occurs at relatively low density in stations near the culture parks and (e) a limited recruitment in the inner parts of Cubas tidal fresh for R. phillippinarum and in the southern zones for R. decussatus. Based on this study, some managing guidelines are presented mainly focused on avoiding the overfishing of the native clam R. decussatus.The work described in this paper was partially supported by the Department of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries from the Regional Government of Cantabria, through the Regional Fisheries and Food Administration and by the VI National Plan (2008–2011) for Research in Science & Technological Innovation of the Spanish Government (Project CGL2009-10620)

Tumor xenograft modeling identifies an association between TCF4 loss and breast cancer chemoresistance

Understanding the mechanisms of cancer therapeutic resistance is fundamental to improving cancer care. There is clear benefit from chemotherapy in different breast cancer settings; however, knowledge of the mutations and genes that mediate resistance is incomplete. In this study, by modeling chemoresistance in patientderived xenografts (PDXs), we show that adaptation to therapy is genetically complex and identify that loss of transcription factor 4 (TCF4; also known as ITF2) is associated with this process. A triple-negative BRCA1-mutaied PDX was used to study the genetics of chemoresistance. The PDX was treated in parallel with four chemotherapies for five iterative cycles. Exome sequencing identified few genes with de novo or enriched mutations in common among the different therapies, whereas many common depleted mutations/ genes were observed. Analysis of somatic mutations from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) supported the prognostic relevance of the identified genes. A mutation in TCF4 was found de novo in all treatments, and analysis of drug sensitivity profiles across cancer cell lines supported the link to chemoresistance. Loss of TCF4 conferred chemoresistance in breast cancer cell models, possibly by altering cell cycle regulation. Targeted sequencing in chemoresistant tumors identified an intronic variant of TCF4 that may represent an expression quantitative trait locus associated with relapse outcome in TCGA. Immunohistochemical studies suggest a common loss of nuclear TCF4 expression post-chemotherapy. Together, these results from tumor xenograft modeling depict a link between altered TCF4 expression and breast cancer chemoresistance

Decapping Protein Edc4 Regulates Dna Repair And Phenocopies Brca1

BRCA1 is a tumor suppressor that regulates DNA repair by homologous recombination. Germline mutations in BRCA1 are associated with increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer and BRCA1 deficient tumors are exquisitely sensitive to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. Therefore, uncovering additional components of this DNA repair pathway is of extreme importance for further understanding cancer development and therapeutic vulnerabilities. Here, we identify EDC4, a known component of processing-bodies and regulator of mRNA decapping, as a member of the BRCA1-BRIP1-TOPBP1 complex. EDC4 plays a key role in homologous recombination by stimulating end resection at double-strand breaks. EDC4 deficiency leads to genome instability and hypersensitivity to DNA interstrand cross-linking drugs and PARP inhibitors. Lack-of-function mutations in EDC4 were detected in BRCA1/2-mutation-negative breast cancer cases, suggesting a role in breast cancer susceptibility. Collectively, this study recognizes EDC4 with a dual role in decapping and DNA repair whose inactivation phenocopies BRCA1 deficiency

Distribution Patterns of the Gooseneck Barnacle (\u3ci\u3ePollicipes pollicipes\u3c/i\u3e [Gmelin, 1789]) in the Cantabria Region (N Spain): Exploring Different Population Assessment Methods

The gooseneck barnacle Pollicipes pollicipes is a very valuable marine resource on the coasts of Spain and Portugal. To maintain the sustainable exploitation of this species, periodical large-scale population assessments are essential. Because of the heterogeneous distribution of these populations in aggregates, together with the difficulties associated with sampling (i.e., access to rocky reefs, wave exposure, high tides, etc.), there is a lack of studies in this regard. In light of these constraints, the coverage, biomass, and available stock of gooseneck barnacle were first estimated using a novel semiquantitative method along a 215-km long coast at 10 fishing zones and three tidal levels. This study contributed to the first assessment of the distribution variability of gooseneck barnacle in the Cantabria region (N Spain), as the first step toward a long-term monitoring goal. The proposed method is based on a general coverage (GC) estimation, by means of (1) quantitative coverage measurements on quadrats (50 cm350 cm) located along vertical transects covering the intertidal bandwidth and corrected by tidal level bandwidths, (2) semiquantitative coverage estimates in larger areas, including 5 m on either side of the quadrats along the transect. Biomass samples were collected at each sampling point by scraping the 50 cm350 cm quadrat and fresh weight of the samples was measured. This method arrives at the biomass estimates by means of a power regression model for the coverage-biomass relationship. The population distribution pattern along the coast was also explored separately, by commonly used (1) quantitative coverage estimates in quadrats with no bandwidth correction (sample coverage, SC) and (2) semiquantitative estimates, as in the proposed method (transect coverage, TC), both of which included biomass sampling. Biomass and standing stocks values obtained using GC were lower and consumed less sampling time than those obtained by TC, and particularly SC. The results suggest that the proposed method might be suitable for the assessment of P. pollicipes populations in large coastal areas, as it potentially avoids stock overestimation by detecting the spatial distribution heterogeneity and reduces the sampling time

A First Approach to Stock Assessment of the Sea Urchin \u3ci\u3eParacentrotus lividus\u3c/i\u3e (Lamarck, 1816) in Cantabria (Bay of Biscay)

The purple sea urchin P. lividus is a marine resource greatly valued for its highly nutritious roe. The objective of this work is to analyse the spatial distribution pattern and population structure of this species in the region of Cantabria (Bay of Biscay) in order to identify the most appropriate zones for sustainable harvesting and for the establishment of adequate management strategies. Two depth ranges were studied (\u3c5 and 5–10 m) in five coastal areas. The available stock of commercial individuals (size \u3e55 mm) was estimated based on the density of individuals and biometric parameters. Significant differences were found among areas but not among depth ranges. Three areas showed low densities with large individuals, whereas two areas showed high densities with small individuals. Despite the average smaller size of the individuals, these high-density areas accumulated 76% of the commercial stock, making these the most suitable zones for the sustainable harvesting of P. lividus in the region. The high variability of the observed density values resulted in elevated uncertainty in the estimation of stocks. However, the high sea urchin densities together with the high percentages of commercial individuals suggest that the resource is currently underexploited. Further studies should be carried out, and precautionary measures should be adopted before opening the fishery. The suitability of many of these measures is discussed in the present work, as a necessary step in the management of the P. lividus fishery in Cantabria