The Impact of High Intensity Training on the Fitness of Middle School Students

Obesity and lack of physical activity (PA) pose a risk to an individual’s physical health through both short-term and long-term effects. A decline in PA occurs between 5th and 8th grades, with the greatest decreases in activity being seen between the ages of 13-19. Further, many students in that grade range are unable to reach the healthy fitness zones (HFZ) on the Fitnessgram, the assessment used in physical education classes to gauge health status. Many interventions have been tried in schools to increase fitness but few have been successful. High intensity training (HIT) has been shown to be an effective, quick, and an enjoyable fitness intervention that has not yet been used in a physical education setting to improve Fitnessgram scores. This will allow for more repetitions and time on task for the traditional physical education class while improving fitness for each student as they are pulled out to do the HIT intervention. In order to examine the effects of HIT on fitness scores, Coastal Carolina University students implemented 4-minute HIT sessions at least 2 days per week at a local middle school reaching approximately 5-8 groups of students each day. Results will be discussed

Identifikation immunstimulatorischer Nukleinsäureliganden zur Stimulation von Rezeptoren der angeborenen Immunantwort

Eine zentrale Rolle der angeborenen Immunität ist die unverzügliche Eingrenzung und Abwehr von Virusinfektionen, bevor Mechanismen der angeborenen Immunität induziert werden, die spezifisch dem Virus entgegenwirken. Dabei ist die Erkennung viraler Nukleinsäuren durch Rezeptoren der angeborenen Immunität entscheidend. Um diese antiviralen Immunmechanismen auch therapeutisch nutzbar zu machen, müssen selektive Agonisten zur Stimulation von endosomalen und zytosolischen Rezeptoren der angeborenen Immunität identifiziert werden. Ebenso muss ein effizienter und sicherer Transfer der Nukleinsäureliganden in die Zellkompartimente, in denen die Rezeptoren lokalisiert sind, sichergestellt werden, um eine zukünftige Anwendung im Menschen zu ermöglichen. In dieser Arbeit wurde die Komplexierung von immunstimulatorischer Ribonukleinsäure (isRNA) mit einem anderweitig bereits für die Klinik zugelassenen Medikament – dem kationischen Peptid Protamin – etabliert. Dabei wurde in Abhängigkeit der isRNA-Sequenz und des Präparats zur Komplexierung das induzierte Zytokinmuster analysiert. Einzelstrang-RNA – einschließlich viraler RNA – bildet spontan Sekundärstrukturen aus. Bei der Untersuchung der Auswirkung von RNA-Sekundärstrukturen auf die Erkennung durch die Toll-like Rezeptoren (TLR)7 und TLR8 konnte die Wobble-Basenpaarung Guanosin:Uridin in doppelsträngiger RNA als selektiver TLR7 RNA-Agonist identifiziert werden. Bestimmte Formen dieses Agonisten werden spontan von Zellen aufgenommen und stellen die bisher einzig bekannte Phosphodiester-RNA dar, die ohne vorherige Komplexierung Immunzellen stimuliert. Doppelstrang-RNA (dsRNA), insbesondere pI:C, gilt als Agonist für den zytosolischen Rezeptor MDA-5. Bei der Untersuchung einer zytosolischen Erkennung von dsRNA über MDA-5 waren die meisten getesteten dsRNAs inaktiv. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass neben der Länge der dsRNA insbesondere die Basenpaarung Inosin:Cytidin (I:C) ein entscheidendes Kriterium für eine Stimulation von MDA-5 ist. Bei einer dsRNA, die neben I:C-Basenpaarungen zusätzlich Guanosin:Cytidin-Basenpaarungen enthält, wird — im Vergleich zu pI:C — die Erkennung über MDA-5 verstärkt. Inosin:Uridin-Paarungen dagegen verhindern die zytosolische Erkennung über MDA-5. Neben RNA wird auch Desoxyribonukleinsäure (DNA) durch Nukleinsäurerezeptoren erkannt, wenn sie ins Zytosol von Zellen gelangt. Das enzymatisch hergestellte DNA-Polymer pdAdT ist bisher der stärkste bekannte Agonist der zytosolischen DNA-Erkennung. In dieser Arbeit wurden bipalindromische konkatemerisierende Oligondesoxynukleotide (bpcODNs) identifiziert, die agonistische Aktivität zeigen. Die Modifikation von bpcODNs mit einem 3’-Monophosphat steigerte deren Aktivität. Mit diesen bpcODNs kann erstmals eine Stimulation mit kurzen DNA Oligonukleotiden in myeloiden Zellen erreicht und die Produktion von Interferon α induziert werden. In dieser Arbeit wurden folglich neue immunstimulatorische Nukleinsäurestrukturen identifiziert, die eine selektive Stimulation von Rezeptoren der angeborenen Immunität ermöglichen. Diese könnten für die gezielte Aktivierung und Modellierung der Immunantwort eingesetzt und als chemisch definierte Agonisten für eine therapeutische Nutzung weiterentwickelt werden.</p

Modeling the impact of melt on seismic properties during mountain building

Initiation of partial melting in the mid/lower crust causes a decrease in P-wave and S-wave velocities; recent studies imply that the relationship between these velocities and melt is not simple. We have developed a modelling approach to assess the combined impact of various melt and solid phase properties on seismic velocities and anisotropy. The modelling is based on crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) data measured from migmatite samples, allowing quantification of the variation of seismic velocities with varying melt volumes, shapes, orientations, and matrix anisotropy. The results show non-linear behaviour of seismic properties as a result of the interaction of all of these physical properties, which in turn depend on lithology, stress regime, strain rate, pre-existing rock fabrics, and pressure-temperature conditions. This non-linear behaviour is evident when applied to a suite of samples from a traverse across a migmatitic shear zone in the Seiland Igneous Province, Northern Norway. Critically, changes in solid phase composition and CPO, and melt shape and orientation with respect to the wave propagation direction can result in huge variations in the same seismic property even if the melt fraction remains the same. A comparison with surface wave interpretations from tectonically active regions highlights the issues in current models used to predict melt percentages or partially molten regions. Interpretation of seismic data to infer melt percentages or extent of melting should, therefore, always be underpinned by robust modelling of the underlying geological parameters combined with examination of multiple seismic properties in order to reduce uncertainty of the interpretation

Fenites associated with carbonatite complexes : a review

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.Carbonatites and alkaline-silicate rocks are the most important sources of rare earth elements (REE) and niobium (Nb), both of which are metals imperative to technological advancement and associated with high risks of supply interruption. Cooling and crystallizing carbonatitic and alkaline melts expel multiple pulses of alkali-rich aqueous fluids which metasomatize the surrounding country rocks, forming fenites during a process called fenitization. These alkalis and volatiles are original constituents of the magma that are not recorded in the carbonatite rock, and therefore fenites should not be dismissed during the description of a carbonatite system. This paper reviews the existing literature, focusing on 17 worldwide carbonatite complexes whose attributes are used to discuss the main features and processes of fenitization. Although many attempts have been made in the literature to categorize and name fenites, it is recommended that the IUGS metamorphic nomenclature be used to describe predominant mineralogy and textures. Complexing anions greatly enhance the solubility of REE and Nb in these fenitizing fluids, mobilizing them into the surrounding country rock, and precipitating REE- and Nb-enriched micro-mineral assemblages. As such, fenites have significant potential to be used as an exploration tool to find mineralized intrusions in a similar way alteration patterns are used in other ore systems, such as porphyry copper deposits. Strong trends have been identified between the presence of more complex veining textures, mineralogy and brecciation in fenites with intermediate stage Nb-enriched and later stage REE enriched magmas. However, compiling this evidence has also highlighted large gaps in the literature relating to fenitization. These need to be addressed before fenite can be used as a comprehensive and effective exploration tool.This research has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant No 689909

Peralkaline Felsic Magmatism of the Atlantic Islands

The oceanic-island magmatic systems of the Atlantic Ocean exhibit significant diversity in their respective sizes, ages, and the compositional ranges of their eruptive products. Nevertheless, almost all of the Atlantic islands and island groups have produced peralkaline felsic magmas, implying that similar petrogenetic regimes may be operating throughout the Atlantic Ocean, and arguably elsewhere. The origins of peralkaline magmas are frequently linked to low-degree partial melting of enriched mantle, followed by protracted differentiation in the shallow crust. However, additional petrogenetic processes such as magma mixing, crustal melting, and contamination have been identified at numerous peralkaline centers. The onset of peralkalinity leads to magma viscosities lower than those typical for metaluminous felsic magmas, which has profound implications for processes such as crystal settling. This study represents a compilation of published and original data which demonstrates trends that suggest that the peralkaline magmas of the Atlantic Ocean islands are generated primarily via extended (up to ∼ 95%), open system fractional crystallization of mantle-derived mafic magmas. Crustal assimilation is likely to become more significant as the system matures and fusible material accumulates in the crust. Magma mixing may occur between various compositional end-members and may be recognized via hybridized intermediate magmas. The peralkaline magmas are hydrous, and frequently zoned in composition, temperature, and/or water content. They are typically stored in shallow crustal magma reservoirs (∼ 2–5 km), maintained by mafic replenishment. Low melt viscosities (1 × 101.77 to 1 × 104.77 Pa s) facilitate two-phase flow, promoting the formation of alkali-feldspar crystal mush. This mush may then contribute melt to an overlying melt lens via filter pressing or partial melting. We utilize a three-stage model to account for the establishment, development, and termination of peralkaline magmatism in the ocean island magmatic systems of the Atlantic. We suggest that the overall control on peralkaline magmatism in the Atlantic is magma flux rate, which controls the stability of upper crustal magma reservoirs. The abundance of peralkaline magmas in the Atlantic suggests that their development must be a common, but not inevitable, stage in the evolution of ocean islands

The Effect of Foam Rolling on Post-Activation Potentiation Responses

Post-activation potentiation (PAP) refers to an acute increase in performance as a result of a conditioning stimulus such as heavy back squat. Previous research has documented improvement in several athletic parameters, including jump performance, as a result of PAP. However, the conditioning stimulus can also induce fatigue, thereby, impairing the effect of PAP induced increase in performance. Recent research has shown that foam rolling can enhance recovery from exercise. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of foam rolling and heavy back squats on vertical jump performance. Therefore, it was hypothesized that foam rolling immediately following the PAP stimulus may lead to a quicker recovery from fatigue effects while allowing the individual to capitalize on the PAP induced increase in jump performance. The results of this study may inform strength and conditioning coaches about the necessary program design variables in order to capitalize on PAP effects