Beneficial Effects of Fibroblast Growth Factor-1 on Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Exposed to High Glucose-Induced Damage: Alleviation of Oxidative Stress, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, and Enhancement of Autophagy.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) severely affects vision in individuals with diabetes. High glucose (HG) induces oxidative stress in retinal cells, a key contributor to DR development. Previous studies suggest that fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1) can mitigate hyperglycemia and protect tissues from HG-induced damage. However, the specific effects and mechanisms of FGF-1 on DR remain unclear. In our study, FGF-1-pretreated adult retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE)-19 cells were employed to investigate. Results indicate that FGF-1 significantly attenuated HG-induced oxidative stress, including reactive oxygen species, DNA damage, protein carbonyl content, and lipid peroxidation. FGF-1 also modulated the expression of oxidative and antioxidative enzymes. Mechanistic investigations showed that HG induced high endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and upregulated specific proteins associated with apoptosis. FGF-1 effectively alleviated ER stress, reduced apoptosis, and restored autophagy through the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase/mammalian target of the rapamycin signaling pathway. We observed that the changes induced by HG were dose-dependently reversed by FGF-1. Higher concentrations of FGF-1 (5 and 10 ng/mL) exhibited increased effectiveness in mitigating HG-induced damage, reaching statistical significance (p < 0.05). In conclusion, our study underscores the promising potential of FGF-1 as a safeguard against DR. FGF-1 emerges as a formidable intervention, attenuating oxidative stress, ER stress, and apoptosis, while concurrently promoting autophagy. This multifaceted impact positions FGF-1 as a compelling candidate for alleviating retinal cell damage in the complex pathogenesis of DR.

Same-Day Bilateral Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implants for the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes and complications associated with the use of same-day bilateral intravitreal dexamethasone (DEX) implants for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS: This retrospective analysis of an open-label, multicenter, consecutive case series included 130 eyes of 65 patients with bilateral DME who were treated with intravitreal DEX implants. The patients were divided into two groups: a control group (comprising 40 eyes treated with an alternating unilateral regimen) and a study group (comprising 90 eyes treated with concomitant bilateral DEX implants). All patients were followed up monthly after implantation. The changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) from baseline to sixth month after implantation, and ocular adverse effects such as intraocular pressure, cataract, and tolerability of bilateral implantation were reviewed. The primary endpoint was to assess the safety of the same-day bilateral treatment protocol. The secondary endpoints focused on evaluating the functional and anatomical changes associated with bilateral simultaneous or alternating implantations. RESULTS: At 6 months after implantation, mean BCVA increased and CRT decreased in both groups. Moreover, no serious ocular adverse effects were observed. In addition, no differences were observed between the two groups in the number of patients who required extra follow-up visits or the number of extra visits made in addition to the treatment schedule. CONCLUSIONS: Same-day bilateral intravitreal DEX implants are associated with a low complication rate and are well tolerated by patients. This safe practice may optimize efficiency and reduce the burden on both the health-care system and patients, when used to treat bilateral DME.

Fibroblast Growth Factor Type 1 Ameliorates High-Glucose-Induced Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells and a Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rat Model.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common complication of diabetes that causes severe visual impairment globally. The pathogenesis of DR is related to oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. The fibroblast growth factor type 1 (FGF-1) mitogen plays crucial roles in cell function, development, and metabolism. FGF-1 is involved in blood sugar regulation and exerts beneficial antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects on various organ systems. This study investigated the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory neuroprotective effects of FGF-1 on high-glucose-induced retinal damage. The results revealed that FGF-1 treatment significantly reversed the harmful effects of oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators in retinal tissue in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model. These protective effects were also observed in the in vitro model of retinal ARPE-19 cells exposed to a high-glucose condition. We demonstrated that FGF-1 attenuated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-κB pathway activation under the high-glucose condition. Our results indicated that FGF-1 could effectively prevent retinal injury in diabetes. The findings of this study could be used to develop novel treatments for DR that aim to reduce the cascade of oxidative stress and inflammatory signals in neuroretinal tissue.

Plasmonic ZnO/Ag embedded structures as collecting layers for photogenerating electrons in solar hydrogen generation photoelectrodes.

A new fabrication strategy in which Ag plasmonics are embedded in the interface between ZnO nanorods and a conducting substrate is experimentally demonstrated using a femtosecond-laser (fs-laser)-induced plasmonic ZnO/Ag photoelectrodes. This fs-laser fabrication technique can be applied to generate patternable plasmonic nanostructures for improving their effectiveness in hydrogen generation. Plasmonic ZnO/Ag nanostructure photoelectrodes show an increase in the photocurrent of a ZnO nanorod photoelectrodes by higher than 85% at 0.5 V. Both localized surface plasmon resonance in metal nanoparticles and plasmon polaritons propagating at the metal/semiconductor interface are available for improving the capture of sunlight and collecting charge carriers. Furthermore, in-situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy is performed to monitor the plasmonic-generating electromagnetic field upon the interface between ZnO/Ag nanostructures. This can reveal induced vacancies on the conduction band of ZnO, which allow effective separation of charge carriers and improves the efficiency of hydrogen generation. Plasmon-induced effects enhance the photoresponse simultaneously, by improving optical absorbance and facilitating the separation of charge carriers.

Multi-level surface enhanced Raman scattering using AgOx thin film.

Ag nanostructures with surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activities have been fabricated by applying laser-direct writing (LDW) technique on silver oxide (AgOx) thin films. By controlling the laser powers, multi-level Raman imaging of organic molecules adsorbed on the nanostructures has been observed. This phenomenon is further investigated by atomic-force microscopy and electromagnetic calculation. The SERS-active nanostructure is also fabricated on transparent and flexible substrate to demonstrate our promising strategy for the development of novel and low-cost sensing chip.

Caffeine's effect on intermittent sprint cycling performance with different rest intervals.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of caffeine ingestion on the performance of an intermittent sprint cycling test (ISCT) with different rest intervals. Fourteen males with team sport experience consumed 6 mg kg(-1) of caffeine or a placebo 60 min prior to completing two sets of an ISCT with 4-min rest intervals. Each set consisted of 12 × 4-s sprints with 20- or 90-s active recovery intervals at 60-70 rpm. Blood lactate was collected at baseline and immediately following the completion of six sprints in each set. At 20-s recovery intervals, peak power and total work were not significantly different between conditions during the ISCT (P > 0.05); but caffeine reduced 6.31% effort for mean power in Sprint 10 of the later stage, as well as an increased fatigue index and elevated blood lactate levels during the ISCT (P < 0.05). At 90-s recovery intervals, peak power, mean power, and total work under caffeine conditions were significantly higher than under placebo conditions during the ISCT (P < 0.05), but no differences were apparent in fatigue index and blood lactate levels (P > 0.05). In conclusion, caffeine ingestion may be ergolytic, affecting performance and fatigue development in the later stage during a prolonged and intermittent sprint test with a short recovery interval. However, caffeine produces an ergogenic effect in the initial stage of an intermittent sprint performance with a longer recovery interval.

Improvement in running economy after 8 weeks of whole-body vibration training.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 8-week whole-body vibration (WBV) training on running economy (RE) and power performance. Twenty-four male collegiate athletes were recruited and randomly assigned to experimental (WBV) and placebo (PL) groups. The WBV subjects performed semisquat vibration training (30 Hz, ±1-2 mm, 3 times per week), whereas PL subjects performed identical training without vibration. The isometric maximum voluntary contraction tests were used to evaluate maximal isometric force (F(max)) and rate of force development (RFD) of lower extremities, before and after the intervention, and RE was measured on a level treadmill at 3 velocities (2.68, 3.13, and 3.58 m·s(-1)). The F(max) of the lower leg (plantar flexion, from 80.8 ± 24.5 to 99.0 ± 33.9 N·m, p < 0.05, η(2) = 0.567; dorsiflexion, from 38.1 ± 6.5 to 43.0 ± 7.7 N·m, p < 0.05), and the RFD of 0-200 milliseconds during plantar flexion (from 186.0 ± 69.2 to 264.6 ± 87.2 N·m·s(-1), p < 0.05, η(2) = 0.184) were significantly increased in the WBV group after training. The averaged RE values for the 3 running velocities were significantly improved after WBV training (pretraining vs. posttraining, 4.31 ± 0.33 vs. 4.65 ± 0.34 m·ml(-1)·kg(-1), p = 0.001, η(2) = 0.654); however, no significant differences were found in the PL group (pretraining vs. posttraining, 4.18 ± 0.26 vs. 4.26 ± 0.44 m·ml(-1)·kg(-1), p = 0.476). The WBV training significantly improved RE at selected speeds (∼5.0-8.5%, p < 0.05). These results indicated that short-term WBV training could be an effective stimulus to enhance RE and lower extremity power performance in competitive athletes.

Therapeutic effect of simultaneous intravitreal dexamethasone and aflibercept on diabetic macular edema.

AIMS: To report the effect of simultaneous intravitreal dexamethasone (DEX) and aflibercept for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS: This retrospective analysis of an open-label, multicenter, consecutive case series included 102 eyes of 81 patients with DME. Patients were selected into two groups. The control group consisted of 50 eyes treated with aflibercept alone, and the combination group consisted of 52 eyes treated with simultaneous DEX implant and aflibercept injection. The primary endpoints were changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) from baseline to month 6. The secondary endpoint was the interval of retreatment. RESULTS: Baseline BCVA increased and CRT decreased at 6 months in both groups. Pseudophakic eyes in the combination group exhibited significantly greater BCVA improvement compared with phakic eyes (p = 0.031). Fewer intravitreal treatments were required for eyes treated with combination therapy than for those treated with aflibercept alone (1.56 ± 0.54 vs. 4.04 ± 1.26, p < .0001), with a mean retreatment interval of 3.66 ± 0.69 months. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous intravitreal DEX and aflibercept achieved non-inferior improvement of visual and anatomic outcomes compared with aflibercept alone for DME, but exhibited a significantly longer treatment interval and superior visual outcome in pseudophakic eyes. This therapeutic approach is considered a valid strategy for treating DME in the era of COVID-19.

The Clinical Trend of Leprosy from 2000 to 2016 in Kaohsiung, a Major International Harbor City in Taiwan, Where Leprosy is Almost Eradicated.

Leprosy is a socially stigmatized granulomatous skin disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Due to improvements in medicine and hygiene in Taiwan, the incidence is very low, up to one dozen per year; however, leprosy has never been eradicated due to the increased numbers of immigrants from Southeast Asia. This study aimed to characterize the clinical and histopathological features of patients with leprosy in the context of near elimination. Fifteen cases of pathologically proven leprosy were identified from 2000 to 2016 in Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. The clinical presentations, demographic details, treatment responses, and disease outcomes were reviewed. The mean age was 46 years (range: 26-73 years). Eight cases were native Taiwanese, while 6 cases and 1 case involved foreign workers from Indonesia and Thailand, respectively. The diagnosis was made 3-6 months on average after skin lesions appeared. The most common clinical subtype was lepromatous leprosy (n = 7). Ten patients were multibacillus microscopically. Three cases were deported. The remaining 12 patients received dapsone and rifampicin for 12 months without recurrence to date. In the near leprosy-eradicated country, early diagnosis and physician vigilance are critical in disease control. Immigrants from endemic countries require strict and professional dermatological examinations and regular follow-up.

Development of a light-weight deep learning model for cloud applications and remote diagnosis of skin cancers.

Skin cancer is among the 10 most common cancers. Recent research revealed the superiority of artificial intelligence (AI) over dermatologists to diagnose skin cancer from predesignated and cropped images. However, there remain several uncertainties for AI in diagnosing skin cancers, including lack of testing for consistency, lack of pathological proof or ambiguous comparisons. Hence, to develop a reliable, feasible and user-friendly platform to facilitate the automatic diagnostic algorithm is important. The aim of this study was to build a light-weight skin cancer classification model based on deep learning methods for aiding first-line medical care. The developed model can be deployed on cloud platforms as well as mobile devices for remote diagnostic applications. We reviewed the medical records and clinical images of patients who received a histological diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, seborrheic keratosis and melanocytic nevus in 2006-2017 in the Department of Dermatology in Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (KCGMH). We used the deep learning models to identify skin cancers and benign skin tumors in the manner of binary classification and multi-class classification in the KCGMH and HAM10000 datasets to construct a skin cancer classification model. The accuracy reached 89.5% for the binary classifications (benign vs malignant) in the KCGMH dataset; the accuracy was 85.8% in the HAM10000 dataset in seven-class classification and 72.1% in the KCGMH dataset in five-class classification. Our results demonstrate that our skin cancer classification model based on deep learning methods is a highly promising aid for the clinical diagnosis and early identification of skin cancers and benign tumors.

An authentic inquiry-based laboratory module for introducing concepts about volatile-mediated communication resulted in stronger students' self-efficacy.

Volatile-mediated impacts of microbes on plants have aroused interest among scientists in the life science field. This study describes an inquiry-based laboratory module named "Microbial Talk", which related to microbial volatile-mediated communication, including the process of design, implementation, and assessment. First-year biology students in this course were allowed to complete authentic microbiology research using both typical experimental techniques and knowledge related to interspecies communication. The instructor provides continued guidance and support to ensure that students are aware of their knowledge and of the choices they encountered. Pretests and posttests were implemented to evaluate the efficacy of the "Microbial Talk" and the students' experimental design ability. Assessment of the module showed that students gained self-efficacy in executing experiments and interpreting data. In conclusion, this module is cost-effective and it can be used to help guide students in their future when they encounter situations that need these scientific skills.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Torenia concolor Lindley var. formosana Yamazaki and betulin in mice.

The present study was intended to examine the analgesic effect of the 70% methanol extract of Torenia concolor Lindley var. formosana Yamazaki (TC(MeOH)) and betulin using models of acetic acid-induced writhing response and formalin test. In addition, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of TC(MeOH) and betulin using model of lambda-carrageenan-induced paw edema. We observed the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx and GR) in the liver and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) in the edema paw. The results showed that TC(MeOH) (1.0 and 2.0 g/kg) and betulin (30 and 90 mg/kg), significantly inhibited the acetic acid-induced writhing response. TC(MeOH) (2.0 g/kg) and betulin (30 and 90 mg/kg) significantly inhibited formalin-induced licking time during both the early and late phases. TC(MeOH) (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg) and betulin (30 and 90 mg/kg) also significantly decreased the paw edema at the 4th hour after lambda-carrageenan injection. Furthermore, TC(MeOH) and betulin treatment also significantly increased the activities of SOD, GR and GPx in the liver while decreasing the level of MDA in the edema paw. Finally, betulin (30 and 90 mg/kg) also caused considerable reduction of NO level in the edema paw. Taken together, the present results indicated that TC(MeOH) and betulin possessed analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of TC(MeOH) and betulin may be related to decreasing the levels of MDA and NO in the edema paw by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the liver.

Impact of Tai Chi Exercise on Balance Disorders: A Systematic Review.

Purpose Tai chi is receiving increasing research attention with its benefit of improving flexibility and balance. The objective of this review was to examine the evidence concerning the impact of tai chi as a practical therapy for vestibular rehabilitation on individuals with balance and vestibular disorders. Method A systematic review using 4 electronic databases was conducted. Randomized clinical trials and quasi-experimental studies were included. Results Four studies met the inclusion criteria and were included for data analysis. Results indicate positive effect of tai chi practice on dynamic postural stability in balance of its practitioners. Conclusion Tai chi may be a useful therapy as for vestibular rehabilitation as it improves dynamic balance control and flexibility of individuals with balance and vestibular disorders.

Arsenic-Induced Carcinogenesis and Immune Dysregulation.

Arsenic, a metal ubiquitously distributed in the environment, remains an important global health threat. Drinking arsenic-contaminated water is the major route of human exposure. Exposure to arsenic contributes to several malignancies, in the integumentary, respiratory, hepatobiliary, and urinary systems. Cutaneous lesions are important manifestations after long-term arsenic exposure. Arsenical skin cancers usually herald the development of other internal cancers, making the arsenic-induced skin carcinogenesis a good model to investigate the progression of chemical carcinogenesis. In fact, only a portion of arsenic-exposed humans eventually develop malignancies, likely attributed to the arsenic-impaired immunity in susceptible individuals. Currently, the exact pathophysiology of arsenic-induced carcinogenesis remains elusive, although increased reactive oxidative species, aberrant immune regulations, and chromosome abnormalities with uncontrolled cell growth might be involved. This review discusses how arsenic induces carcinogenesis, and how the dysregulated innate and adaptive immunities in systemic circulation and in the target organs contribute to arsenic carcinogenesis. These findings offer evidence for illustrating the mechanism of arsenic-related immune dysregulation in the progression of carcinogenesis, and this may help explain the nature of multiple and recurrent clinical lesions in arsenic-induced skin cancers.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of aqueous extract from Glycine tomentella root in mice.

In the present study, we have investigated the analgesic effect of the aqueous extract of the root of Glycine tomentella (AGT) using models of acetic acid-induced writhing response and formalin test, the anti-inflammatory effect of AGT using model of lambda-carrageenan-induced paw edema. In order to investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of AGT, we have detected the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GRx) in the liver and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and NO in the edema paw. In the analgesic test, AGT (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) decreased the acetic acid-induced writhing response and the licking time on the late phase in the formalin test. In the anti-inflammatory test, AGT (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) decreased the paw edema at the third, fourth, fifth and sixth hour after lambda-carrageenan administration, and increased the activities of SOD, GPx and GRx in the liver tissue and decreased the MDA level in the edema paw at the third hour after lambda-carrageenan injection. However, AGT could not affect the NO level which induced by lambda-carrageenan. These results suggested that AGT possessed analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of AGT might be related to the decrease in the level of MDA in the edema paw via increasing the activities of SOD, GPx and GRx in the liver.

Clinical significance of skin rash in dengue fever: A focus on discomfort, complications, and disease outcome.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether the cutaneous features in patients with dengue fever are associated with abnormal blood biochemistry, complications, and poor disease outcome. METHODS: Forty five patients with dengue fever were identified at a medical center in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, from September to November 2014. All cases were exclusively caused by type 1 dengue virus. Patients were classified into two groups, based on the presence or absence of skin rash, and their rash was subclassified into maculopapular, morbilliform, and petechial types. Clinical symptoms, laboratory data, disease outcome, and complications were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Thirty two patients with dengue fever developed skin rash (SP group, n = 32) while the rest of 13 did not (SN group, n = 13). The patient numbers in the maculopapular, morbilliform, and petechial group were 4, 21, and 7, respectively. The SP group was younger (P = 0.001), experienced more pruritus (P = 0.008) and more swollen palms/soles (P = 0.015) than the SN group. However, the SN group had greater genital mucosa involvement (P = 0.008), higher platelet transfusion rate (P = 0.003), and lower hemoglobin and hematocrit levels (P = 0.030) than the SP group. Patients with morbilliform lesions had a higher incidence of palm/sole swelling, less genital mucosal involvement, and a lower platelet transfusion rate than did patients with maculopapular or petechial lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Cutaneous manifestations provide an important clue to dengue fever. In patients with dengue fever, those with skin rash tend to have itching and swelling of the palms/soles, however, those without skin rash tend to have more complications and poor disease outcomes.

Astaxanthin Inhibits Expression of Retinal Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Mediators in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

PURPOSE: We evaluated whether orally administered astaxanthin (AST) protects against oxidative damage in the ocular tissues of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty 6-week-old female Wistar rats were randomly assigned to receive an injection of STZ to induce diabetes (n = 40) or to remain uninduced (n = 10). The diabetic rats were randomly selected into four groups and they were separately administered normal saline, 0.6 mg/kg AST, 3 mg/kg AST, or 0.5 mg/kg lutein daily for eight weeks. Retinal functions of each group were evaluated by electroretinography. The expression of oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators in the ocular tissues was then assessed by immunohistochemistry, western blot analysis, ELISA, RT-PCR, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Retinal functions were preserved by AST and lutein in different levels. Ocular tissues from AST- and lutein-treated rats had significantly reduced levels of oxidative stress mediators (8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, nitrotyrosine, and acrolein) and inflammatory mediators (intercellular adhesion molecule-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and fractalkine), increased levels of antioxidant enzymes (heme oxygenase-1 and peroxiredoxin), and reduced activity of the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB). CONCLUSION: The xanthophyll carotenoids AST and lutein have neuroprotective effects and reduce ocular oxidative stress, and inflammation in the STZ diabetic rat model, which may be mediated by downregulation of NF-κB activity.

Effects of carbohydrate combined with caffeine on repeated sprint cycling and agility performance in female athletes.

BACKGROUND: Caffeine (CAF) has been shown to improve performance during early phase of repeated sprint exercise; however some studies show that CAF also increases the magnitude of physical stress represented by augmented blood lactate, glucose, and cortisol concentrations during latter phase of repeated sprint exercise. No studies have investigated the efficacy of combined carbohydrate (CHO) and CAF consumption during repeated sprint exercise (RSE) in female athletes. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of CAF with CHO supplementation on RSE and agility. METHODS: Eleven female athletes completed four experimental trials performed 7 d apart in a double-blind, randomized, and counter-balanced crossover design. Treatments included CAF + PLA (placebo), CAF + CHO, PLA + CHO, and PLA + PLA. Participants ingested capsules containing 6 mg · kg(-1) of CAF or PLA 60-min prior to RSE, and 0.8 g · kg(-1) of CHO solution or PLA immediately before the RSE, which consisted of ten sets of 5 × 4-s sprints on the cycle ergometer with 20-s active recovery. The agility T-test (AT-test) was performed before and after the RSE. Blood samples were acquired to assess glucose, lactate, testosterone, and cortisol. RESULTS: During Set 6 of RSE, peak power and mean power were significantly higher in PLA + CHO than those in CAF + PLA and PLA + PLA, respectively (p < .05). Total work was significantly increased by 4.8% and 5.9% with PLA + CHO than those of CAF + CHO and CAF + PLA during Set 3. PLA + CHO also increased total work more than CAF + PLA and PLA + PLA did during Set 6 (p < .05). No significant differences in AT-test performance either before or after the RSE were occurred among treatments (p > .05). Blood lactate and glucose concentrations were significantly higher under CAF + CHO, CAF + PLA, and PLA + CHO versus PLA + PLA (p < .05), but no differences in testosterone or cortisol levels were found (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that CAF + PLA or CAF + CHO ingestion did not improve repeated sprint performance with short rest intervals or agility. However, CHO ingested immediately prior to exercise provided a small but significant benefit on RSE performance in female athletes.

Inspiratory muscle warm-up attenuates muscle deoxygenation during cycling exercise in women athletes.

This study examines the effects of inspiratory muscle warm-up (IMW) on performance and muscle oxygenation during cycling exercise. In a randomized crossover study of 10 female soccer players, the IMW, placebo (IMWP) and control (CON) trials were conducted before two 6-min submaximal cycling exercises (100 and 150W) followed by intermittent high-intensity sprint (IHIS, 6×10s with 60s recovery). The reduction in tissue saturation index (TSI) in legs in the IMW were significantly less than those in IMWP and CON (P<0.01) during submaximal cycling exercises. The average reduction in TSI during the IHIS test with IMW was significantly less than those in the IMWP and CON (P=0.023). Nevertheless, the IHIS performance with IMW did not differ from that in other trials. In conclusion, the leg TSI during continuous submaximal cycling exercise followed by intermittent sprinting was likely improved by specific IMW (40% maximal inspiratory mouth pressure), which did not enhance IHIS performance.

Manipulated transformation of filamentary and homogeneous resistive switching on ZnO thin film memristor with controllable multistate.

A bias polarity-manipulated transformation from filamentary to homogeneous resistive switching was demonstrated on a Pt/ZnO thin film/Pt device. Two types of switching behaviors, exhibiting different resistive switching characteristics and memory performances were investigated in detail. The detailed transformation mechanisms are systematically proposed. By controlling different compliance currents and RESET-stop voltages, controllable multistate resistances in low resistance states and a high resistance states in the ZnO thin film metal-insulator-metal structure under the homogeneous resistive switching were demonstrated. We believe that findings would open up opportunities to explore the resistive switching mechanisms and performance memristor with multistate storage.