The Effects of Biofeedback on Performance and Technique of the Boxing Jab.

A growing body of research has addressed the application of movement-based biofeedback techniques for improving sports performers' gross motor skills. Unlike in previous research, we aimed in this study to quantify the effects of this "external" biofeedback on selected performance and technique variables for the boxing jab among both novices and experts. The technical setup included two inertial measurement units linked wirelessly to a video game system with audio output. The units were configured to provide auditory external biofeedback, based on the peak acceleration of the bag (i.e., biofeedback with an external attentional focus). Sixteen participants (8 novices and 8 experts) performed boxing jabs against the bag in blocked phases of biofeedback. When compared to baseline, the acute effects of externally focused biofeedback on peak bag acceleration were possibly positive in both retention phases for novices (d = 0.29; d = 0.41) and likely positive for experts (d = 0.41; d = 0.30), respectively. The experts' performance improvements were accompanied by substantive increases in trunk rotation, though this was not true for the novices. Thus, technique improvements can be promoted indirectly via externally focused biofeedback, but only when these actions are within the performers' motor repertoire. Overall, biofeedback via inertial sensors appears to be a potent technique for modifying human movement patterns in both experts and novices. This low-cost technology could be used to support training across sports, rehabilitation and human-computer interactions.

Mindfulness practice for protecting mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emerging evidence shows that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is negatively affecting mental health around the globe. Interventions to alleviate the psychological impact of the pandemic are urgently needed. Whether mindfulness practice may protect against the harmful emotional effects of a pandemic crisis remains hitherto unknown. We investigated the influence of mindfulness training on mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak in China. We hypothesized that mindfulness practitioners might manifest less pandemic-related distress, depression, anxiety, and stress than non-practitioners and that more frequent practice would be associated with an improvement in mental health during the pandemic. Therefore, we assessed pandemic-related distress and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as the frequency of meditation practice at the peak of new infections (Feb 4-5; N = 673) and three weeks later (Feb 29-30; N = 521) in mindfulness practitioners via online questionnaires. Self-reported symptoms were also collected from non-practitioners at peak time only (N = 1550). We found lower scores of pandemic-related distress in mindfulness practitioners compared to non-practitioners. In general, older participants showed fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety. In younger practitioners, pandemic-related distress decreased from peak to follow-up. Importantly, increased mindfulness training during the preceding two weeks was associated with lower scores of depression and anxiety at both assessments. Likewise, practice frequency predicted individual improvement in scores of depression, anxiety, and stress at follow-up. Our results indicate that mindfulness meditation might be a viable low-cost intervention to mitigate the psychological impact of the COVID-19 crisis and future pandemics.

The Effect of a Brief-Mindfulness Intervention on Psychophysiological Exertion and Flow-State Among Sedentary Adults.

Mindfulness-acceptance commitment interventions in sport and exercise contexts have been helpful to increasing a positive psycho-physiological state among competitive athletes and recreational exercise participants. In the current study, we sought to extend research in this area by identifying the effect of a brief-mindfulness intervention on psychophysiological functioning among healthy but sedentary young adults. Our mixed gender sample (n = 42) of inactive individuals performed a brief cycling task without training (control condition) followed by task completion with brief mindfulness training (15-minute audio engagement with mindfulness techniques and specific present moment 'anchors'). We found that participants self-reported more accurate ratings of perceived exertion (i.e., self-ratings better matched actual physiological indices of exertion) following the mindfulness intervention, suggesting that mindfulness techniques can increase bodily awareness. Better body awareness may be useful to helping sedentary participants appreciate physiological changes experienced through exercise. The mindfulness manipulation also increased participants' absorption into the activity, suggesting greater attentiveness to the exercise task with less distraction from irrelevant external and internal cues. In sum, mindfulness may be a complementary psychological training tool for inactive, sedentary young adults attempting to re-engage with exercise. We provide recommendations for future research.

Interaction between Antibiotic Resistance, Resistance Genes, and Treatment Response for Urinary Tract Infections in Primary Care.

Given increasing antimicrobial resistance, we aimed to determine antibiotic susceptibility and presence of resistance genes in uropathogens in primary care, factors associated with resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics, and effect of treatment on early symptom resolution. We conducted a prospective study of primary care patients with urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms and culture-confirmed UTI in Singapore from 2015 to 2016. Cohort characteristics and antimicrobial susceptibility of cultured isolates were analyzed. Among Enterobacteriaceae isolates, early symptom resolution (within 3 days) according to antibiotic prescribed and isolate susceptibility and factors associated with antibiotic resistance were evaluated. Of 695 symptomatic patients, 299 were urine culture positive; of these 299 patients, 259 (87%) were female. Escherichia coli was the most common uropathogen (76%). Enterobacteriaceae isolates (n = 283) were highly susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanate (86%), nitrofurantoin (87%), and fosfomycin (98%), but >20% were resistant to ciprofloxacin and co-trimoxazole. Isolates resistant to appropriate indicator antibiotics were further tested to determine proportions positive for blaCTX-M (14/26, 54%), plasmid-mediated ampC (12/24, 50%), qnr (7/69, 10%), and fos (1/6, 17%) resistance genes. A total of 67% of patients given antibiotics with susceptible isolates reported early resolution versus 45% given antibiotics with nonsusceptible isolates (P = 0.001) and 27% not treated (P = 0.018). On multivariable analysis, Indian ethnicity and diabetes mellitus were associated with amoxicillin-clavulanate resistance. Genitourinary abnormalities, UTI in the past 12 months, and hospitalization in the past 6 months were associated with ciprofloxacin and co-trimoxazole resistance. Patients given active empirical antibiotics were most likely to report early symptom resolution, but correlation with in vitro susceptibility was imperfect. Factors associated with resistance may guide the decision to obtain initial urine culture.

Reduced dietary omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio and 12/15-lipoxygenase deficiency are protective against chronic high fat diet-induced steatohepatitis.

Obesity is associated with metabolic perturbations including liver and adipose tissue inflammation, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. Omega-6 fatty acids (ω6) promote and omega-3 fatty acids (ω3) reduce inflammation as they can be metabolized to pro- and anti-inflammatory eicosanoids, respectively. 12/15-lipoxygenase (12/15-LO) enzymatically produces some of these metabolites and is induced by high fat (HF) diet. We investigated the effects of altering dietary ω6/ω3 ratio and 12/15-LO deficiency on HF diet-induced tissue inflammation and insulin resistance. We examined how these conditions affect circulating concentrations of oxidized metabolites of ω6 arachidonic and linoleic acids and innate and adaptive immune system activity in the liver. For 15 weeks, wild-type (WT) mice were fed either a soybean oil-enriched HF diet with high dietary ω6/ω3 ratio (11∶1, HFH), similar to Western-style diet, or a fat Kcal-matched, fish oil-enriched HF diet with a low dietary ω6/ω3 ratio of 2.7∶1 (HFL). Importantly, the total saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat content was matched in the two HF diets, which is unlike most published fish oil studies in mice. Despite modestly increased food intake, WT mice fed HFL were protected from HFH-diet induced steatohepatitis, evidenced by decreased hepatic mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory genes and genes involved in lymphocyte homing, and reduced deposition of hepatic triglyceride. Furthermore, oxidized metabolites of ω6 arachidonic acid were decreased in the plasma of WT HFL compared to WT HFH-fed mice. 12/15-LO knockout (KO) mice were also protected from HFH-induced fatty liver and elevated mRNA markers of inflammation and lymphocyte homing. 12/15-LOKO mice were protected from HFH-induced insulin resistance but reducing dietary ω6/ω3 ratio in WT mice did not ameliorate insulin resistance or adipose tissue inflammation. In conclusion, lowering dietary ω6/ω3 ratio in HF diet significantly reduces steatohepatitis.

Mental toughness of mixed martial arts athletes at different levels of competition.

This study investigated whether mental toughness distinguishes mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes competing at different levels. It was theorized that higher mental toughness would separate those competing at the professional level compared to lower levels. Male MMA competitors (N = 136, M age = 27.1 yr., SD = 4.8) were categorized as amateur, semi-professional, or professional and assessed by questionnaire using the Psychological Performance Inventory-A and the Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire. There were statistically significant differences between the three groups on mental toughness. The professional group had higher scores compared to semi-professional and amateur groups with regard to confidence, positive cognition, and determination. The findings supported previous work that athletes performing at higher levels have superior mental toughness.

RC-RNase-induced cell death in estrogen receptor positive breast tumors through down-regulation of Bcl-2 and estrogen receptor.

RC-RNase exerts anti-cancer effects on many tumors. However, the mechanisms by which RC-RNase induces cytotoxicity in different tumor cells are unclear. Currently, estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and negative breast tumors are treated with RC-RNase. Our data demonstrate that RC-RNase induces cell death on ER-positive but not on ER-negative breast tumors. This study also shows that down-regulation of ER and Bcl-2 is found on RC-RNase-treated ER-positive breast tumors. Additionally, Bcl-2 overxpression can prevent ER-positive breast tumors from cell death treated with RC-RNase. In summary, this study demonstrates that RC-RNase-induced cell death of ER-positive breast tumors is through regulation of ER and Bcl-2.

Combined effects on selectivity in Fe-catalyzed methylene oxidation.

Methylene C-H bonds are among the most difficult chemical bonds to selectively functionalize because of their abundance in organic structures and inertness to most chemical reagents. Their selective oxidations in biosynthetic pathways underscore the power of such reactions for streamlining the synthesis of molecules with complex oxygenation patterns. We report that an iron catalyst can achieve methylene C-H bond oxidations in diverse natural-product settings with predictable and high chemo-, site-, and even diastereoselectivities. Electronic, steric, and stereoelectronic factors, which individually promote selectivity with this catalyst, are demonstrated to be powerful control elements when operating in combination in complex molecules. This small-molecule catalyst displays site selectivities complementary to those attained through enzymatic catalysis.