Efficacy of different 8 h time-restricted eating schedules on visceral adipose tissue and cardiometabolic health: A study protocol.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To investigate the efficacy and feasibility of three different 8 h time-restricted eating (TRE) schedules (i.e., early, late, and self-selected) compared to each other and to a usual-care (UC) intervention on visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and cardiometabolic health in men and women. METHODS AND RESULTS: Anticipated 208 adults (50% women) aged 30-60 years, with overweight/obesity (25 ≤ BMI<40 kg/m2) and with mild metabolic impairments will be recruited for this parallel-group, multicenter randomized controlled trial. Participants will be randomly allocated (1:1:1:1) to one of four groups for 12 weeks: UC, early TRE, late TRE or self-selected TRE. The UC group will maintain their habitual eating window and receive, as well as the TRE groups, healthy lifestyle education for weight management. The early TRE group will start eating not later than 10:00, and the late TRE group not before 13:00. The self-selected TRE group will select an 8 h eating window before the intervention and maintain it over the intervention. The primary outcome is changes in VAT, whereas secondary outcomes include body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors. CONCLUSION: This study will determine whether the timing of the eating window during TRE impacts its efficacy on VAT, body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors and provide insights about its feasibility.

Prevalence and Clinical Factors Associated With Pes Planus Among Children and Adults: A Population-Based Synthesis and Systematic Review.

Estimates of pes planus ("flatfoot") prevalence vary considerably across studies. Moreover, there is uncertainty over which factors are associated with the pes planus prevalence. We aimed to systematically review the prevalence and clinical factors associated with flatfoot among children and adults. We searched Web of Science, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Google Scholar databases reporting population-based flatfoot prevalence. Two reviewers independently extracted the data and assessed the qualities of the studies. Subgroup analysis was conducted to analyze the associated factors on flatfoot prevalence. Frequencies, odds ratios (OR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were performed using descriptive analysis and chi-square test accounting for heterogeneity. Any conflict in the data analysis was discussed by all the reviewers. Twelve studies including 2509 flatfoot cases were analyzed (overall prevalence 15.6%, n = 16,000). The subgroup analysis indicated that male gender (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.15-1.37), age groups 3 to 5 years (OR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.78-2.30) and 11 to 17 years (OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.64-2.22), Asian race (OR = 2.34, 95% CI: 2.10-2.60), and obesity (OR = 2.62, 95% CI: 2.06-3.32) were more associated with flatfoot (p < .001). Conversely, female gender (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.40-0.48) and White race (OR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.47-0.57) were less associated with flatfoot (p < .001). Our findings may be valuable for clinical/surgical settings, particularly, for those modifiable findings and targeted populations. However, we suggest that future studies estimating flatfoot should consider prospective/multicenter designs using a common screening methods in random samples populations.

A WoT-Based Method for Creating Digital Sentinel Twins of IoT Devices.

The data produced by sensors of IoT devices are becoming keystones for organizations to conduct critical decision-making processes. However, delivering information to these processes in real-time represents two challenges for the organizations: the first one is achieving a constant dataflow from IoT to the cloud and the second one is enabling decision-making processes to retrieve data from dataflows in real-time. This paper presents a cloud-based Web of Things method for creating digital twins of IoT devices (named sentinels).The novelty of the proposed approach is that sentinels create an abstract window for decision-making processes to: (a) find data (e.g., properties, events, and data from sensors of IoT devices) or (b) invoke functions (e.g., actions and tasks) from physical devices (PD), as well as from virtual devices (VD). In this approach, the applications and services of decision-making processes deal with sentinels instead of managing complex details associated with the PDs, VDs, and cloud computing infrastructures. A prototype based on the proposed method was implemented to conduct a case study based on a blockchain system for verifying contract violation in sensors used in product transportation logistics. The evaluation showed the effectiveness of sentinels enabling organizations to attain data from IoT sensors and the dataflows used by decision-making processes to convert these data into useful information.

An Indoor Navigation Methodology for Mobile Devices by Integrating Augmented Reality and Semantic Web.

Indoor navigation systems incorporating augmented reality allow users to locate places within buildings and acquire more knowledge about their environment. However, although diverse works have been introduced with varied technologies, infrastructure, and functionalities, a standardization of the procedures for elaborating these systems has not been reached. Moreover, while systems usually handle contextual information of places in proprietary formats, a platform-independent model is desirable, which would encourage its access, updating, and management. This paper proposes a methodology for developing indoor navigation systems based on the integration of Augmented Reality and Semantic Web technologies to present navigation instructions and contextual information about the environment. It comprises four modules to define a spatial model, data management (supported by an ontology), positioning and navigation, and content visualization. A mobile application system was developed for testing the proposal in academic environments, modeling the structure, routes, and places of two buildings from independent institutions. The experiments cover distinct navigation tasks by participants in both scenarios, recording data such as navigation time, position tracking, system functionality, feedback (answering a survey), and a navigation comparison when the system is not used. The results demonstrate the system's feasibility, where the participants show a positive interest in its functionalities.

Language ability and adult homelessness.

BACKGROUND: People experiencing homelessness are at increased risk of neurological disorder due to multiple factors such as substance abuse, infection, and higher rates of serious mental illness and traumatic brain injury. This could affect cognitive and language skills. Indeed, past research has suggested that certain language-related skills tend to be lower in people experiencing homelessness. However, that research has compared homeless samples with age-matched normative samples and not with samples of people from similar socio-economic backgrounds. Therefore, it is unclear whether homelessness is even a relevant factor, or if adults who are homeless tend to have appropriate linguistic skills relative to their social and educational background. AIMS: To compare the language skills of a group of adults with histories of homelessness with an education-matched control group. It was hypothesized that participants with histories of homelessness would have worse language performance than their matched controls. METHODS & PROCEDURES: A quasi-experimental design was employed involving 17 adults with histories of homelessness, mainly rough sleeping, in the city of Quito in Ecuador, and a sample of 16 adults who had never been homeless. All were assessed with measures of head injury, substance dependence, affective disorder and language skills. A paired-sample analysis was performed on homeless and control participants matched for educational background, used as an index of socio-economic background. OUTCOMES & RESULTS: The mean years of formal education was low in both the homeless sample (mean = 5.82 years) and the control sample (mean = 6.75 years). There were no differences between the groups for any demographic or clinical factors, nor for a measure of expected or 'premorbid' ability based on single-word reading, nor for current non-verbal cognitive functioning. In contrast, the homeless group scored significantly worse than the control group on measures of auditory comprehension and oral expression. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS: Adults with histories of homelessness may have worse language skills than would be expected based on their educational backgrounds and non-verbal cognitive abilities. It is possible that some of this lower language ability is pathological, in the form of either a developmental language disorder or an acquired impairment. As such, some adults who are homeless may benefit from therapy directed at clinical language disorders.

Pars plana vitrectomy combined with scleral buckle versus pars plana vitrectomy for giant retinal tear.

BACKGROUND: A giant retinal tear (GRT) is a full-thickness neurosensory retinal break extending for 90° or more in the presence of a posterior vitreous detachment. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of pars plana vitrectomy combined with scleral buckle versus pars plana vitrectomy alone for eyes with giant retinal tear. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2018, Issue 8), which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Trials Register; Ovid MEDLINE; Embase.com; PubMed; Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences (LILACS); ClinicalTrials.gov; and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP). We did not use any date or language restrictions in our electronic search. We last searched the electronic databases on 16 August 2018. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing pars plana vitrectomy combined with scleral buckle versus pars plana vitrectomy alone for giant retinal tear regardless of age, gender, lens status (e.g. phakic or pseudophakic eyes) of the affected eye(s), or etiology of GRT among participants enrolled in these trials. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed titles and abstracts, then full-text articles, using Covidence. Any differences in classification between the two review authors were resolved through discussion. Two review authors independently abstracted data and assessed risk of bias of included trials. MAIN RESULTS: We found two RCTs in abstract format (105 participants randomized). Neither RCT was published in full. Based on the data presented in the abstracts, scleral buckling might be beneficial (relative risk of re-attachement ranged from 3.0 to 4.4), but the findings are inconclusive due to a lack of peer reviewed publication and insufficient information for assessing risk of bias. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We found no conclusive evidence from RCTs on which to base clinical recommendations for scleral buckle combined with pars plana vitrectomy for giant retinal tear. RCTs are clearly needed to address this evidence gap. Such trials should be randomized, and patients should be classified by giant retinal tear characteristics (extension (90º, 90º to 180º, > 180º), location (oral, anterior, posterior to equator)), proliferative vitreoretinopathy stage, and endotamponade. Analysis should include both short-term (three months and six months) and long-term (one year to two years) outcomes for primary retinal reattachment, mean change in best corrected visual acuity, study eyes that required second surgery for retinal reattachment, and adverse events such as elevation of intraocular pressure above 21 mmHg, choroidal detachment, cystoid macular edema, macular pucker, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, and progression of cataract in initially phakic eyes.

Nucleosome-specific, time-dependent changes in histone modifications during activation of the early growth response 1 (Egr1) gene.

Histone post-translational modifications and nucleosome remodeling are coordinate events involved in eukaryotic transcriptional regulation. There are relatively few data on the time course with which these events occur in individual nucleosomes. As a contribution to fill this gap, we first describe the nature and time course of structural changes in the nucleosomes -2, -1, and +1 of the murine Egr1 gene upon induction. To initiate the transient activation of the gene, we used the stimulation of MLP29 cells with phorbol esters and the in vivo activation after partial hepatectomy. In both models, nucleosomes -1 and +1 are partially evicted, whereas nucleosomes +1 and -2 slide downstream during transcription. The sliding of the latter nucleosome allows the EGR1 protein to bind its site, resulting in the repression of the gene. To decide whether EGR1 is involved in the sliding of nucleosome -2, Egr1 was knocked down. In the absence of detectable EGR1, the nucleosome still slides and remains downstream longer than in control cells, suggesting that the product of the gene may be rather involved in the returning of the nucleosome to the basal position. Moreover, the presence of eight epigenetic histone marks has been determined at a mononucleosomal level in that chromatin region. H3S10phK14ac, H3K4me3, H3K9me3, and H3K27me3 are characteristic of nucleosome +1, and H3K9ac and H4K16ac are mainly found in nucleosome -1, and H3K27ac predominates in nucleosomes -2 and -1. The temporal changes in these marks suggest distinct functions for some of them, although changes in H3K4me3 may result from histone turnover.

Historical exposure to persistent organic pollutants and risk of incident hypertension.

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of adipose tissue concentrations of a group of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on the risk of hypertension in an adult cohort of residents of Granada (Southern Spain) over a 10-year follow-up. No chemical was significantly associated with the risk of hypertension in the overall population or when models were stratified by sex or median age. However, we found positive associations between log-transformed POP concentrations and hypertension risk in participants with body mass index (BMI) above the median value of 26.3kg/m(2), which were statistically significant for hexachlorobenzene (HR=1.26, 95% CI=1.03-1.56), ß-hexachlorocyclohexane (HR=1.25, 95% CI=1.03-1.51), and polychlorinated biphenyl congeners -138 (HR=1.32, 95% CI=1.04-1.69) and -153 (HR=1.36, 95% CI=1.00-1.84). Inverse associations were observed in the subgroup with BMI≤26.3kg/m(2), but none was statistically significant. More research and a longer follow-up period are warranted to verify these associations and elucidate the role of obesity as a potential effect modifier. Given the elevated worldwide frequency of POP exposure and hypertension, the public health impact of this relationship may be substantial.

Duodenal involvement by seminomatous tumors.

Testicular germ cell tumors, though rare (1%), represent the most common neoplasm among young men. Gastrointestinal involvement from these malignancies usually presents as bowel obstruction and digestive bleeding, but their frequency is low (5%). The patterns of this involvement are: infiltration from affected retroperitoneal lymph nodes or, less frequently, by peritoneal seeding and direct hematogenous spread. Particularly, infiltration of duodenum is also rare, though its real frequency is not well defined. Moreover, the affinity for GI tract differs among the histological types of GCT, being seminomatous tumors an exceedingly unfrequent cause of duodenal infiltration. We herein present a recent case in our institution of severe anemia due to gastrointestinal bleeding in the context of giant retroperitoneal bulky metastatic mass infiltrating duodenum as first manifestation of a testicular pure seminoma.

Hybrid Class Balancing Approach for Chemical Compound Toxicity Prediction.

INTRODUCTION: Computational methods are crucial for efficient and cost-effective drug toxicity prediction. Unfortunately, the data used for prediction is often imbalanced, resulting in biased models that favor the majority class. This paper proposes an approach to apply a hybrid class balancing technique and evaluate its performance on computational models for toxicity prediction in Tox21 datasets. METHODS: The process begins by converting chemical compound data structures (SMILES strings) from various bioassay datasets into molecular descriptors that can be processed by algorithms. Subsequently, Undersampling and Oversampling techniques are applied in two different schemes on the training data. In the first scheme (Individual), only one balancing technique (Oversampling or Undersampling) is used. In the second scheme (Hybrid), the training data is divided according to a ratio (e.g., 90-10), applying a different balancing technique to each proportion. We considered eight resampling techniques (four Oversampling and four Undersampling), six molecular descriptors (based on MACCS, ECFP, and Mordred), and five classification models (KNN, MLP, RF, XGB and SVM) over 10 bioassay datasets to determine the configurations that yield the best performance. RESULTS: We defined three testing scenarios: without balancing techniques (baseline), Individual, and Hybrid. We found that using the ENN technique in the MACCS-MLP combination resulted in a 10.01% improvement in performance. The increase for ECFP6-2048 was 16.47% after incorporating a combination of the SMOTE (10%) and RUS (90%) techniques. Meanwhile, using the same combination of techniques, MORDRED-XGB showed the most significant increase in performance, achieving a 22.62% improvement. CONCLUSION: Integrating any of the class balancing schemes resulted in a minimum of 10.01% improvement in prediction performance compared to the best baseline configuration. In this study, Undersampling techniques were more appropriate due to the significant overlap among samples. By eliminating specific samples from the predominant class that are close to the minority class, this overlap is greatly reduced.

A common regulatory switch controls a suite of C4 traits in multiple cell types.

The C4 photosynthetic pathway provided a major advantage to plants growing in hot, dry environments, including the ancestors of our most productive crops. Two traits were essential for the evolution of this pathway: increased vein density and the functionalization of bundle sheath cells for photosynthesis. Although GRAS transcriptional regulators, including SHORT ROOT (SHR), have been implicated in mediating leaf patterning in both C3 and C4 species, little is known about what controls the specialized features of the cells that mediate C4 metabolism and physiology. We show in the model monocot, Setaria viridis, that SHR regulates components of multiple cell identities, including chloroplast biogenesis and photosynthetic gene expression in bundle sheath cells, a central feature of C4 plants. Furthermore, we found that it also contributes to the two-cell compartmentalization of the characteristic four-carbon shuttle pathway. Disruption of SHR function clearly reduced photosynthetic capacity and seed yield in mutant plants under heat stress. Together, these results show how cell identities are remodeled by SHR to host the suite of traits characteristic of C4 regulation, which are a main engineering target in non-C4 crops to improve climate resilience.

Time-restricted eating and supervised exercise for improving hepatic steatosis and cardiometabolic health in adults with obesity: protocol for the TEMPUS randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease is a major public health problem considering its high prevalence and its strong association with extrahepatic diseases. Implementing strategies based on an intermittent fasting approach and supervised exercise may mitigate the risks. This study aims to investigate the effects of a 12-week time-restricted eating (TRE) intervention combined with a supervised exercise intervention, compared with TRE or supervised exercise alone and with a usual-care control group, on hepatic fat (primary outcome) and cardiometabolic health (secondary outcomes) in adults with obesity. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: An anticipated 184 adults with obesity (50% women) will be recruited from Granada (south of Spain) for this parallel-group, randomised controlled trial (TEMPUS). Participants will be randomly designated to usual care, TRE alone, supervised exercise alone or TRE combined with supervised exercise, using a parallel design with a 1:1:1:1 allocation ratio. The TRE and TRE combined with supervised exercise groups will select an 8-hour eating window before the intervention and will maintain it over the intervention. The exercise alone and TRE combined with exercise groups will perform 24 sessions (2 sessions per week+walking intervention) of supervised exercise combining resistance and aerobic high-intensity interval training. All participants will receive nutritional counselling throughout the intervention. The primary outcome is change from baseline to 12 weeks in hepatic fat; secondary outcomes include measures of cardiometabolic health. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by Granada Provincial Research Ethics Committee (CEI Granada-0365-N-23). All participants will be asked to provide written informed consent. The findings will be disseminated in scientific journals and at international scientific conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05897073.

Associations between Urinary Phthalate Metabolites with BDNF and Behavioral Function among European Children from Five HBM4EU Aligned Studies.

Based on toxicological evidence, children's exposure to phthalates may contribute to altered neurodevelopment and abnormal regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). We analyzed data from five aligned studies of the Human Biomonitoring for Europe (HBM4EU) project. Ten phthalate metabolites and protein BDNF levels were measured in the urine samples of 1148 children aged 6-12 years from Italy (NACII-IT cohort), Slovakia (PCB-SK cohort), Hungary (InAirQ-HU cohort) and Norway (NEBII-NO). Serum BDNF was also available in 124 Slovenian children (CRP-SLO cohort). Children's total, externalizing and internalizing behavioral problems were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist at 7 years of age (only available in the NACII-IT cohort). Adjusted linear and negative binomial regression models were fitted, together with weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models to assess phthalate mixture associations. Results showed that, in boys but not girls of the NACII-IT cohort, each natural-log-unit increase in mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) and Mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) was cross-sectionally associated with higher externalizing problems [incidence rate ratio (IRR): 1.20; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.42 and 1.26; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.55, respectively]. A suggestive mixture association with externalizing problems was also observed per each tertile mixture increase in the whole population (WQS-IRR = 1.15; 95% CI: 0.97, 1.36) and boys (IRR = 1.20; 95% CI: 0.96, 1.49). In NACII-IT, PCB-SK, InAirQ-HU and NEBII-NO cohorts together, urinary phthalate metabolites were strongly associated with higher urinary BDNF levels, with WQS regression confirming a mixture association in the whole population (percent change (PC) = 25.9%; 95% CI: 17.6, 34.7), in girls (PC = 18.6%; 95% CI: 7.92, 30.5) and mainly among boys (PC = 36.0%; 95% CI: 24.3, 48.9). Among CRP-SLO boys, each natural-log-unit increase in ∑DINCH concentration was associated with lower serum BDNF levels (PC: -8.8%; 95% CI: -16.7, -0.3). In the NACII-IT cohort, each natural-log-unit increase in urinary BDNF levels predicted worse internalizing scores among all children (IRR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.32). Results suggest that (1) children's exposure to di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) metabolites is associated with more externalizing problems in boys, (2) higher exposure to DINCH may associate with lower systemic BDNF levels in boys, (3) higher phthalate exposure is associated with higher urinary BDNF concentrations (although caution is needed since the possibility of a "urine concentration bias" that could also explain these associations in noncausal terms was identified) and (4) higher urinary BDNF concentrations may predict internalizing problems. Given this is the first study to examine the relationship between phthalate metabolite exposure and BDNF biomarkers, future studies are needed to validate the observed associations.

Factor binding and chromatin modification in the promoter of murine Egr1 gene upon induction.

The influence of chromatin on immediate-early gene expression has been studied in a model of Egr1 induction in intact mouse cells. ChIP analysis of factor and RNA polymerase binding reveals that the gene is constitutively poised for transcription in nonstimulated cells, but a repressing chromatin structure hampers productive transcription. Stimulation with phorbol esters results in a transient activation, which starts at 5 min and peaks at 30 min. Quantitative mapping of promoter occupancy by the different factors shows for the first time that no direct competition between SP1 and EGR1 occurs. The phosphorylation of ELK1 and CREB, which involves both the cascades of MEK1/2 and p38 kinases, is required for gene expression, which ceases following the binding of NAB1 and NAB2 to the promoter. The changes in histone acetylation and the differential recruitment of histone-modifying complexes further show the role of chromatin in the activation of this immediate-early gene.

Inverted Meckel's diverticulum diagnosed using capsule endoscopy: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Meckel's diverticulum is a common asymptomatic congenital gastrointestinal anomaly. However, its presentation as an inverted Meckel's diverticulum is a rare complication, of which few cases have been reported in the literature. CASE SUMMARY: Here, we report the case of a 33-year-old man with iron deficiency anemia without manifestation of gastrointestinal bleeding. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and total colonoscopy were performed, but no abnormalities were found within the observed area. Finally, a capsule endoscopy was performed and offered us a clue to subsequently confirm the diagnosis of inverted Meckel's diverticulum via computed tomography scan. Laparoscopic intestinal resection surgery was performed. The final pathology report described a Meckel's diverticulum. CONCLUSION: Since inverted Meckel's diverticulum is an uncommon disease and its clinical presentation is not specific, it may go undetected by capsule endoscopy. Successful diagnosis and treatment of this disease requires a high index of clinical suspicion.

Single-cell dissection of cellular components and interactions shaping the tumor immune phenotypes in ovarian cancer.

Distinct T cell infiltration patterns, i.e., immune infiltrated, excluded, and desert, result in different responses to cancer immunotherapies. However, the key determinants and biology underpinning these tumor immune phenotypes remain elusive. Here, we provide a high-resolution dissection of the entire tumor ecosystem through single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis of 15 ovarian tumors. Immune-desert tumors are characterized by unique tumor cell-intrinsic features, including metabolic pathways and low antigen presentation, and an enrichment of monocytes and immature macrophages. Immune-infiltrated and -excluded tumors differ markedly in their T cell composition and fibroblast subsets. Furthermore, our study reveals chemokine receptor-ligand interactions within and across compartments as potential mechanisms mediating immune cell infiltration, exemplified by the tumor cell-T cell cross talk via CXCL16-CXCR6 and stromal-immune cell cross talk via CXCL12/14-CXCR4. Our data highlight potential molecular mechanisms that shape the tumor immune phenotypes and may inform therapeutic strategies to improve clinical benefit from cancer immunotherapies.

Phytochemical analysis and in vitro free-radical-scavenging activities of the essential oils from leaf and fruit of Melaleuca leucadendra L.

The phytochemical profile of Melaleuca leucadendra L. leaf and fruit oils from Cuba was investigated by GC and GC/MS. Forty-one and sixty-four volatile compounds were identified and quantified, accounting for 99.2 and 99.5% of the leaf-oil and fruit-oil total composition, respectively. The main components were 1,8-cineol (43.0%), viridiflorol (24.2%), α-terpineol (7.0%), α-pinene (5.3%), and limonene (4.8%) in the leaf oil, and viridiflorol (47.6%), globulol (5.8%), guaiol (5.3%), and α-pinene (4.5%) in the fruit oil. The antioxidant capacity of these essential oils was determined by three different in vitro assays (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), and 2,2'-Azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical cation), and significant activities were evidenced for all of them.

Physical Activity, Sports Practice, and Cognitive Functioning: The Current Research Status.

The evidence for the benefits of physical activity on cognitive functioning has increased in recent years. Although the relationship between these variables has been analyzed for decades, the development of evaluation techniques has resolved several issues and advanced this area of knowledge. Moreover, several authors have pointed out the association between the cognitive functioning of athletes and their performance in competition. These recent studies suggest that some specific cognitive abilities of athletes could help them become more effective and improve their chances of success. The objective of this paper was to identify the most relevant advances in these areas of study and to highlight more promising lines of research for the next few years. We have discussed findings from the application of different physical activity programs as well as the most significant cognitive performance variables for sports practice. The limitations of the findings were also discussed.

Long-term ozone exposure of potato: free radical content and leaf injury analysed by Q-band ESR spectroscopy and image analysis.

This paper presents Q-band electron spin resonance (ESR) studies on free radicals (FR) generated in potato leaves exposed to different O(3) levels in open-top chambers (OTC), together with a quantitative study of the relationship between FR signal intensity and area of potato leaf damage. The advantages of Q-band when compared to X-band ESR spectroscopy are analysed, the main advantage being an absence of overlapping between Mn(II) and FR signals, allowing a quantitative study of FR signal intensity. This study also reports on a graphical method developed to quantitatively measure the damaged area on leaves caused by ozone exposure. Results indicate a direct relationship between FR signal intensity (measured as area under the signal) and percentage of O(3) damage and clearly demonstrate a close relationship between visible ozone-induced symptoms and permanent FR concentration in potato leaves.

HPCE quantification of 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine in genomic DNA: methodological optimization for chestnut and other woody species.

Quantification of deoxynucleosides using micellar high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) is an efficient, fast and inexpensive evaluation method of genomic DNA methylation. This approach has been demonstrated to be more sensitive and specific than other methods for the quantification of DNA methylation content. However, effective detection and quantification of 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine depend of the sample characteristics. Previous works have revealed that in most woody species, the quality and quantity of RNA-free DNA extracted that is suitable for analysis by means of HPCE varies among species of the same gender, among tissues taken from the same tree, and vary in the same tissue depending on the different seasons of the year. The aim of this work is to establish a quantification method of genomic DNA methylation that lends itself to use in different Castanea sativa Mill. materials, and in other angiosperm and gymnosperm woody species. Using a DNA extraction kit based in silica membrane has increased the resolutive capacity of the method. Under these conditions, it can be analyzed different organs or tissues of angiosperms and gymnosperms, regardless of their state of development. We emphasized the importance of samples free of nucleosides, although, in the contrary case, the method ensures the effective separation of deoxynucleosides and identification of 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine.