Burst Activity Research Articles

Effect of Total Dissolved Gas Supersaturation on Swimming Performance of Migratory Fish for Traversing Velocity Barriers

This study investigates the impact of total dissolved gas supersaturation (TDGS) on the swimming capabilities of migratory fish (S. prenanti), a common issue during high dam discharges in flood seasons. We assessed fish exposed to 130% TDGS for 2 hr, focusing on their swimming performance in a controlled environment. In our experiments, control group fish, utilizing prolonged swimming, showed reduced maximum distances as flow velocities increased from 3 to 10 BL/s (body length per second), covering distances between 1,285 and 119 BL. In contrast, TDGS‐exposed fish achieved only 15%–95% of these distances. Under burst swimming conditions, control group fish also demonstrated a decrease in maximum distances with increasing flow velocity, achieving 280–124 BL, while TDGS‐exposed fish reached just 48%–64% of these distances. Notably, the critical flow velocity (Ufcrit) for transitioning from prolonged to burst activity level was lower for the TDGS group (7.2 BL/s) compared with the control (9.8 BL/s). In open flume trials, TDGS‐exposed fish displayed a stronger upstream swimming inclination beyond Ufcrit, indicated by quicker times, higher speeds, and shorter trajectories. This study provides novel insights into the adaptive swimming strategies and flow velocity responses of fish under TDGS stress.

Time-dependent progress of lower urinary tract dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with or without low-dose insulin treatment.

Objectives: To examine time-dependent functional and structural changes of the lower urinary tract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with or without low-dose insulin treatment and explore the pathophysiological characteristics of insulin therapy on lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) caused by diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups: normal control (NC) group, 4 weeks insulin-treated DM (4-DI) group, 4 weeks DM (4-DM) group, 8 weeks insulin-treated DM (8-DI) group and 8 weeks DM (8-DM) group. DM was initially induced by i.p. injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg), and then the DI groups received subcutaneous implantation of insulin pellets under the mid dorsal skin. Voiding behavior was evaluated in metabolic cages. The function of bladder and urethra in vivo were evaluated by simultaneous recordings of the cystometrogram and urethral perfusion pressure (UPP) under urethane anesthesia. The function of bladder and urethra in vitro were tested by organ bath techniques. The morphologic changes of the bladder and urethra were investigated using Hematoxylin-Eosin and Masson's staining. Results: Both 4-and 8-weeks diabetic rats have altered micturition patterns, including increased 12-h urine volume, urinary frequency/12 hours and voided volume. In-vivo urodynamics showed the EUS bursting activity duration is longer in 4-DM group and shorter in 8-DM group compared to NC group. UPP change in 8-DM were significantly lower than NC group. While none of these changes were found between DI and NC groups. Organ bath showed the response to Carbachol and EFS in bladder smooth muscle per tissue weights was decreased significantly in 4- and 8-weeks DM groups compared with insulin-treated DM or NC groups. In contrast, the contraction of urethral muscle and maximum urethral muscle contraction per gram of the tissue to EFS stimulation were significantly increased in 4- and 8-weeks DM groups. The thickness of bladder smooth muscle was time-dependently increased, but the thickness of the urethral muscle had no difference. Conclusions: DM-induced LUTD is characterized by time-dependent functional and structural remodeling in the bladder and urethra, which shows the hypertrophy of the bladder smooth muscle, reduced urethral smooth muscle relaxation and EUS dysfunction. Low-dose insulin can protect against diuresis-induced bladder over-distention, preserve urethral relaxation and protect EUS bursting activity, which would be helpful to study the slow-onset, time-dependent progress of DM-induced LUTD.

Role of Phyllanthus niruri on the modulation of stress and immune responses in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus.

The use of nutraceuticals in aquaculture is getting attention to minimize oxidative stress and increase immunity of aquatic animals. In our experiment, we tested the potency of Phyllanthus niruri, as a stress-reducing and immune-stimulating agent in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. We reared fish in a recirculating system for 90 days at low (5 g/L) and high (30 g/L) densities. We fed half of the low and high-density fish with commercial feed (control feed) and the other half, with 5% Phyllanthus niruri incorporated into commercial feed (supplemented feed). We assessed plasma cortisol, blood glucose, packed cell volume, plasma proteins, phagocytic capacity, respiratory burst activity, and lysozyme activity. None of these parameters showed any significant difference among the experimental groups. Based on our findings, we conclude that Phyllanthus niruri does not have any potential role in modulating stress and immune response in fish as a nutraceutical.

Curcuma longa and Allium sativum as health promoters in genetically improved farmed Tilapia (GIFT) - A green drug approach in hi-tech aquaculture using biofloc

In biofloc-based fish farming, the pathogen Aeromonas hydrophila poses substantial financial risks, while chemotherapeutics in such a system can disrupt delicate microbial balance and promote antimicrobial resistance. Hence, our study aims to evaluate the impact of dietary supplementation of Curcuma longa (turmeric) and Allium sativum (garlic) extracts on the health of Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) in the biofloc system. Initially, in a 45-day feeding trial followed by 15-day challenge study, four experimental diets with varying turmeric (TE) and garlic extract (GE) doses (T1: 0.05% TE, T2: 0.1% TE, T3: 0.05% GE, T4: 0.1% GE) were tested against a control group as a prophylactic measure. The basal diet for the control group was devoid of herbal extract. The health of botanicals-fed groups in terms of growth performance (percentage weight gain, protein efficiency ratio, feed conversion ratio, and specific growth rate) and immune response (haematological parameters, total serum protein, albumin, globulin, oxidative burst activity, myeloperoxidase activity, and total Immunoglobulin) was significantly (p < 0.05) improved compared to control. The T2 and T4 groups, which received a higher dose of herbal extract (0.1%), demonstrated better relative percent survival (RPS) at 40% and 35%, respectively, after the challenge. In a subsequent 30-day challenge study, to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of turmeric and garlic extracts, three diets were prepared with different ratios of turmeric and garlic extract (T1: 75:25, T2: 50:50, T3: 25:75) at a maximum dosage of 0.1% herbal inclusion based on the finding of the first experiment. The T1 group showed the highest RPS at 54%, followed by T2 (42%) and T3 (35%). Overall, the present study suggests that dietary supplementation of 0.1% turmeric and garlic extracts separately as a prophylactic measure and a 0.1% mixed herbal supplementation at a 75:25 ratio (turmeric to garlic) as a therapeutic measure may effectively control A. hydrophila infection in GIFT farming using biofloc.

Main Problems and Outcomes of the Activities of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development – ODED in 1997–2022

Introduction. The article analyzes the main directions and trends of the development of ODED as an international organization from its formation in 1997 to the present events of 2022. The author summarizes the activities of this structure over more than 20 years of its existence. Results and Discussion. The author concludes that despite periodic bursts of activity, the overall activities of this organization have been largely declaratory in nature and have not led to any significant practical results. Although the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development – ODED, which includes Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, has repeatedly raised the issue of including the union in global transportation routes for energy supplies, no major projects have been implemented. According to the author, the main reason for this has been the politicized nature of the organization, which was initially created primarily to counter Russia’s integration aspirations in the post-Soviet space with the support of Western actors such as the EU, NATO, and the United States. Conclusion. In reality, the ODED member countries have different goals on the international stage and have virtually no common economic interests. As a result, today ODED primarily serves as a negotiating platform for a small range of issues.

Selenium Nanoparticles Ameliorate Adverse Impacts of Aflatoxin in Nile Tilapia with Special Reference to Streptococcus agalactiae Infection

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a plant-origin toxin that could induce oxidative stress in fish. The micromineral selenium (Se) possesses well-documented antioxidant properties. To assess the ameliorative effects of SeNPs (1 mg/kg fish feed) on oxidative stress induced by AFB1 (500 μg/kg fish feed), Nile tilapia (32.2±1.7 g body weight) were distributed randomly and even in six groups for 8-week feeding trial. Live enzymes, AST, ALT, and ALP levels were increased in the serum of fish fed AFB1-contaminated diet, and the addition of SeNPs could restore normal values compared to the control. The gene expression of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme and catalase (CAT) enzyme, and DNA fragmentation were significantly increased in response to aflatoxin exposure, while dietary SeNPs could mitigate the generated oxidative stress. The innate immunity, serum antibacterial activity (SAA), oxidative burst activity (OBA), phagocytic activities (PA and PI), and gene expression of cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1β, heat shock protein70 (Hsp), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α) revealed a status of immunosuppression in Nile tilapia fed on AFB1-contaminated diet. These findings showed that fish became more vulnerable to Streptococcus agalactiae infection with a high mortality rate while dietary SeNPs provided a high relative protection level (RPL). From the obtained findings, SeNPs could mitigate the oxidative stress induced by feeding the AFB1 diet and could boost the immunity of stressed Nile tilapia.

Current Review of the Function and Regulation of Tuberoinfundibular Dopamine Neurons.

Tuberoinfundibular dopamine (TIDA) neurons have cell bodies located in the arcuate nucleus of the mediobasal hypothalamus. They project to the external zone of the median eminence, and the dopamine (DA) released there is carried by the hypophysial portal vasculature to the anterior pituitary. The DA then activates D2 receptors to inhibit prolactin (PRL) secretion from lactotrophs. The TIDA neuronal population is the principal regulatory factor controlling PRL secretion. The neuroendocrine role subserved by TIDA neurons sets them apart from other dopaminergic populations like the nigrostriatal and mesolimbic DA neurons. TIDA neurons exhibit intrinsic oscillatory fluctuations in their membrane potential that give rise to phasic firing and bursting activity. TIDA neuronal activity is sexually differentiated and modulated by gonadal hormones and PRL, as well as an array of small molecule and peptide neurotransmitters. This review covers these characteristics.

Dietary Mentha piperita essential oil loaded in chitosan nanoparticles mediated the growth performance and humoral immune responses in Siberian sturgeon (Acipenserbaerii)

Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) fry often face environmental stressors that can compromise their immune system, rendering them susceptible to opportunistic pathogens in intensive aquaculture systems. In this study, we explored the innovative use of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with Mentha piperita essential oil (MPO/CNPs) as a dietary supplement to improve the growth and immune responses of A. baerii. The results demonstrated that the addition of MPO/CNPs to the diet led to significant improvements in growth, as evidenced by increased red blood cell count, hematocrit, haemoglobin concentration, and reduced triglyceride levels. Furthermore, significant differences were observed in the immune parameters for the treatment groups receiving Mentha piperita essential oil loaded in chitosan nanoparticles (MPO/CNPs), including enhanced lysozyme activity, immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels, respiratory burst activity, and ACH50 activity. Additionally, gene expression analysis revealed upregulation of key immune-related genes in the MPO/CNPs-treated groups. These findings suggest that the use of MPO/CNPs can enhance the growth and bolster the immune defences of Siberian sturgeon fry, contributing to more sustainable production in intensive aquaculture environments.

Effects of exogenous bile acids (BAs) on growth, lipid profile, digestive enzymes, and immune responses of thinlip mullet, Liza ramada

An eight-week trial was designed to explore the dietary effects of commercially purchased exogenous bile acids (BAs) on growth, whole-body composition, lipid profile, intestinal digestive enzymes, liver function enzymes, oxidative stress biomarkers, and serum immunity of thinlip mullet, Liza ramada. Four triplicate groups (10.50 ± 0.05 g) were fed four soybean meal (SBM)-based diets supplied with several BAs levels at 0 (control), 50, 130, or 350 mg/kg feed. Results indicated that the growth was significantly increased in groups fed BAs-based diets, especially at 130 mg/kg feed. The body composition analysis showed that feeding fish on diets supplied with BAs up to 130 mg/kg decreased moisture (%) alongside increased crude protein (%). However, the body composition of fish fed a diet with 350 mg BAs/kg had the lowest moisture (%) and the highest crude protein (%). Moreover, there were significant increases in the intestinal (protease, α-amylase, and lipase) enzyme activities in the groups supplied with BAs up to 130 mg BAs/kg. Liver function enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase enzyme activities) were significantly decreased in BAs-supplemented groups compared to those fed the BAs-free group. On the other hand, the control group had higher total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein alongside the lower high-density lipoprotein than BAs-supplemented groups, especially at 350 mg BAs/kg feed. BAs significantly decreased hepatic malondialdehyde concentrations and increased the activity of hepatic catalase, superoxide dismutase, and total antioxidant capacity compared with those reared on the control diet. Serum lysozyme, respiratory burst, and alternative complement activities were significantly increased in BAs-supplied groups, particularly in the group supplied with 130 mg BAs/kg compared to those fed on the control diet. Accordingly, our findings recommend that including 130 mg BAs/kg in an SBM-based diet enhanced the growth, digestive enzyme activities, and liver functions, alleviated oxidative stress, boosted serum immunity, and lowered lipid metabolites in thinlip mullet. These findings will be beneficial for improving the quality of feed prepared for feeding mullets and an effective alternative strategy to support mullet farming.

Physiological and histopathological effects of polystyrene nanoparticles on the filter-feeding fish Hypophthalmichthys molitrix

Excessive use of plastics in daily life is causing plastic pollution in aquatic environment and threatening the aquatic life. Therefore, research on the plastic pollution in aquatic environment is crucial to understand its impact and develop effective solution for safeguarding aquatic life and ecosystem. The current study investigated the effects of water borne polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NPs) on hemato-immunological indices, serum metabolic enzymes, gills, and liver antioxidant parameters, plasma cortisol level and histopathological changes in liver and gill tissues of the widely distributed fish Hypophthalmichthys molitrix. The fingerlings of H. molitrix were exposed to different concentrations (T1–0.5, T2–1.0, and T3–2.0 mg/L) of PS-NPs respectively for 15 days consecutively. Our results indicated the dose dependent negative effects of PS-NPs on the physiology and histopathology of H. molitrix. Immuno-hematological indices showed significant increase in WBCs count, phagocytic activity, and lysozyme activity, while decreased RBC count, Hct%, Hb level, total proteins, IgM, and respiratory burst activity were observed. The levels of antioxidant enzymes like SOD, CAT and POD showed the decreasing trends while metabolic enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP and LDH), LPO, ROS activities and relative expressions of SOD1, CAT, HIF1-α and HSP-70 genes increased with increased concentrations of PS-NPs. Moreover, blood glucose and cortisol levels also showed significant increasing trends with dose dependent manner. Histopathological examination indicated moderate to severe changes in the gills and liver tissues of the group treated with 2.0 mg/L of PS-NPs. Overall, the results showed the deleterious effects of PS-NPs on physiology, immunity, metabolism, and gene expressions of H. molitrix. It is concluded that particulate plastic pollution has deleterious effects on filter feeding fish, which might affect human health through food chain and particulate chemical toxicity.

Bursting activity in the reduced mean-field model of neuron-glial interaction

The study of neural activity synchronization in the brain is a central focus of modern neurobiology and neurodynamics. In a healthy brain, cognitive functions necessitate the accurate integration of neural activity at specific spatiotemporal scales. Some neurological and psychiatric disorders exhibit observable variations in patterns of synchronous population activity. One of the most significant and compelling synchronous population activity patterns is the bursting activity that participates in various informational and physiological processes, including epilepsy. Several mathematical models have been proposed to explain the mechanisms of formation of the bursting activity. The most intriguing and scientifically sound models enable incorporation of astrocytic modulation of neural activity [1]. In this paper, we present a novel phenomenological model for accurately replicating the bursting neural population activity. Our model builds upon the Tsodyks-Markram [2] model and incorporates vital aspects of neuron-glial interaction through a tripartite synapse. The presented model is a simplified version of the previously proposed model [3]. During astrocyte activity (which lasts seconds), we can set the probability of neurotransmitter release, u, which is determined in fractions of a second. This enables the proposed model to be written in the following manner: r=–E+α ln(1+exp((Ju(Y)xE+I0)/α)), =(1–x)/τD–u(Y)xE, =–y/τY+βσy(X). Here, E(t) represents the average neuronal activity of the excitatory population, while x(t) denotes the quantity of available neurotransmitter. Additionally, y(t) describes the concentration of gliotransmitters, which are released as a result of biochemical reactions during neuron-astrocyte interactions. The function describes the alteration in the likelihood of neurotransmitter release when gliotransmitters are present u(y)=u0+(∆u0)/(1+exp(–50(y–ythr)). Here u0 represents the probability of neurotransmitter release without astrocytic influence; ∆u0 indicates the change in the probability of neurotransmitter release caused by the interaction of the gliotransmitter with the presynaptic terminal, and ythr represents the threshold value that determines the change in the probability of neurotransmitter release due to the effect of a gliotransmitter. The function describes the influence of neurotransmitter on the concentration of the gliotransmitter σy(x)=1/(1+exp(–20(x–xthr)), where xthr is the astrocyte activation threshold. Note that the proposed model does not account for synaptic depression’s mechanism. Therefore, various dynamical regimes’ formation in the model is solely controlled by astrocytic dynamics. In the study, control parameters I0 and u0 were selected while the remaining parameters were held constant. Specifically, τ=0.013, τD=0.08, α=1.58, J=3.07. Changes in the concentration of neurotransmitters and gliotransmitters were characterized by parameters ∆u0=0.305, τν=3.3, β=0.3, xxthr=0.75, ythr=0.4. The research was conducted using computer modeling and numerical methods in nonlinear dynamics. The proposed model exhibits a diverse range of population activity patterns, such as spiking and bursting regular and chaotic activity. Chaotic dynamics zones are identified in the control parameter plane. An account is given of the mechanisms behind the emergence of these activity patterns through bifurcation analysis. It is shown that the occurrence of chaotic activity in the system can be associated both with the cascade of period doubling bifurcations and with the further development of chaos, as a result of which a homoclinic attractor appears in the system according to the Shilnikov scenario. It was also shown that multistability is observed in the system in a certain range of parameters. Note that the emergence of multistability and bursting activity in the model is independent of the intricacy of neuron and glial cell dynamics. These dynamics are instead influenced by the feedback loop between the presynaptic neuron and the glial cell. The effects of neuron-like dynamics and neural-glial interaction demonstrated are generally applicable, without specifying particular characteristics of neural-glial interaction, network architecture, or single-cell neuron dynamics. It should be noted that our proposed model solely concerns the potentiation of synaptic transmission by astrocytes. In summary, the proposed phenomenological model for population activity can replicate various patterns of neuron activity found in a wide range of dynamic memory and information processing studies. This research can potentially lead to the development of new, effective treatment methods for neurological diseases that involve neuron-glial interaction. Another potential application for these results is in the development of an optimized live chip that has preset functions. This requires a deeper understanding of rhythmogenesis in neural networks and brain function.

Period addition cascade in a model of neuron-glial interaction

We analyze a system of four differential equations that describe the dynamics of a neuron-glial network using the mean field approximation [1, 2]: (τ=–E+α ln(1+e1/α(JuxE+I0)), =(1–x)/τD–uxE,(1) =U(y)–u/τF+U(y)(1–u)E, =–y/τy+βσ(x), where E(t) is the average activity, x(t) is the fraction of available neurotransmitter released into the synaptic gap with a probability u(t); y(t) is the fraction of the gliatransmitter released by the astrocyte. Sigmoidal functions U(y) and σ(x) correspond to changes in the base probability level u(t) during the release of the gliatransmitter and activation of astrocytes during neurotransmitter release, respectively. The input inhibitory current corresponds to a bifurcation parameter with a negative value of I0 0, while the remaining parameters have positive and fixed values. The rest of the parameters are positive and fixed. For a detailed description of the model, including information on the type of functions and parameter values, refer to works [1, 2]. For a constant value of U(x)=const, the first three equations in system (1) represent the Tsodyks–Markram model, which explains the short-term synaptic plasticity phenomenon [1]. The model was enhanced with a fourth equation for y in [2], incorporating the influence of astrocytes via the concept of a tripartite synapse [3]. Model (1) illustrates a wide range of dynamic behavior including quiescence, regular tonic activity, and chaotic bursting activity. These behaviors correspond to various sets in the phase space, such as stable equilibrium states, limit cycles of period 1, limit cycles of any period n∈N, and chaotic attractors. Changing the I0 l parameter causes sets to bifurcate, resulting in the loss of stability of certain attractors and the emergence of others, leading to a shift in the dynamic regime. Therefore, in terms of dynamics, the conditions for bifurcation and the characteristics of the newly formed attractors are crucial. In this presentation, we have obtained a series of numerical bifurcations in system (1) that correspond to the shift from tonic activity to burst activity, resulting in subsequent modifications to the bursts. Specifically, our findings demonstrate that an increase in the number of spikes per burst is determined by a period adding cascade where the aforementioned limit cycle of period n becomes unstable, allowing for a previously established stable cycle of period n+1 to occupy the position of the “main” attractor. This process culminates in the vanishing of the orbit with an endless period due to the saddle-node bifurcation of cycles, followed by the creation of a dependable cycle with a period of 1. The main properties of the cascade were reproduced in our model one-dimensional piecewise-smooth map z¯=1−z6, forz0,μ−1−μ(z-1)6, forz0, where z∈R1, μ is a bifurcational parameter. The map’s results suggest that an increase in current I0 i in model (1) may lead to the emergence and disappearance of quasi-strange attractors (quasi-attractors), implying chaotic behavior in connection with burst variation.

Subthalamic nucleus neuronal activity entropy in the effective stimulation area in patients with Parkinson’s disease

One of the most successful and promising treatments for Parkinson’s disease today is deep brain stimulation (DBS). Accurate localization of the stimulation area is critical for the outcome of surgical DBS electrode implantation in the subthalamic nucleus (STN). To achieve this, microelectrode recording is used during surgery to precisely locate the STN borders [1], while test stimulations with a macroelectrode are widely employed to enhance DBS electrode placement accuracy. Thus, through testing multiple trajectories, the most clinically effective one can be selected. However, a comprehensive and reliable description of the specific single neuron activity associated with successful DBS electrode implantation is currently lacking. A study was conducted using microelectrode recordings (MER) of single neuron activity in the STN of 21 Parkinson’s disease patients (UPDRS III off/on=46.9/12.8) to identify the neuronal activity features associated with the most favorable clinical outcome of test stimulation. A comparative analysis of 29 activity parameters, such as firing rate, oscillatory activity intensity in different frequency ranges (Oscores), coefficient of variation, burst, pause index, among others [2], was conducted for 618 identified neurons. In addition, the approach of computing the entropy of the change in interspike intervals (ISI) of the pulse sequence [3] and the process of identifying patterns of neural activity using hierarchical clustering [4] were implemented. A comparative analysis of single neuron activity indicated notable (p 0.05) variations between disregarded and selected paths for the ultimate implantation of DBS electrode, solely relying on entropy parameters. Trajectories that delivered optimal test stimulation outcomes demonstrated reduced entropy of interspike intervals. Only the patterns of neuronal activity characterized by extended periods of steady firing and brief pauses, referred to as tonic and pause activity, respectively, were found to contribute to the difference in entropy between trajectories. In contrast, there were no statistically significant differences detected in entropy values associated with neurons demonstrating burst activity. Furthermore, we observed a positive and significant correlation between entropy values and the degree of improvement in disease presentation before and after administration of medication. A comparative analysis was conducted on the activity of single neurons along different trajectories with varied test stimulation responses. The results showed a weak effectiveness of linear parameters in determining the optimal electrode insertion path for improved clinical outcomes. However, the use of non-linear activity parameters, specifically entropy, in single neurons effectively differentiated trajectories with significant versus absent/insignificant test stimulation results. Furthermore, the significance of entropy in establishing the basal ganglia functions and describing information transfer processes in movement control is emphasized by interpreting this parameter as a measure of uncertainty or unpredictability of the information system in relation to the findings of other studies [5].

A comparison of three different work to rest periods during intermittent sprint training on maintaining sprint effort performance

Background/objectivesTeam sports are characterised by repeated maximal intensity bursts of activity, requiring significant energy contribution from the phosphagen pathways. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different rest periods on repeated maximal intensity efforts. MethodsThe effect of three different recovery periods (60 s, 90 s and 120 s) during a 10 × six-seconds intermittent sprint training protocol performed on a cycle ergometer was investigated. Thirteen part-time female athletes from two sports, Rugby Sevens and Netball competing for their state participated in the study. Peak Power (PPO), Mean Power (MPO), “total work” in the form of calorie expenditure, performance decrement, repetitions over 95% PPO, blood lactate, and RPE were recorded. ResultsThere was a significant effect of condition on MPO and calorie expenditure (p < 0.050). MPO was significantly lower for 60 s compared to 90 s (710.4 vs 734.4 W, ES = 0.27–0.42) and 120 s (710.4 vs 743.3 W, ES = 0.36–0.47). Calorie expenditure was significantly lower for 60 s compared to 90 s (4.41 vs 4.56 cal, ES = 0.25–0.46) and 120 s (4.41 vs 4.59 cal, ES = 0.40–0.48). There was a significant effect of time (60 s 11.7, 90 s 11.1.120 s 10.9 mmol/L, p < 0.010) but not condition (p = 0.617) for blood lactate accumulation, and a significant difference in session RPE between 60 and both 90 s and 120 s (60 s 15.5, 90 s 14.2. p = 0.034 120 s 13.9, p = 0.039). ConclusionShorter recovery durations resulted in decreased mean power and calorie expenditure, but higher RPE when compared to longer recovery periods. All three recovery periods may have fallen between the fast and slow phases of PCr resynthesis of approximately 20 and 180 s resulting in partial but not complete recovery. Total training time should be a consideration when determining what protocol to implement.

Application of nZnO supported with nanoclay for improving shrimp immunity

This study discloses the nanoscale silicate platelet-supported nZnO (ZnONSP) applied as novel feed additives in aquaculture. The preparation of the nanohybrid (ZnO/NSP = 15/85, w/w) was characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope. The effects of ZnONSP on growth, zinc accumulation, stress response, immunity and resistance to Vibrio alginolyticus in white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) were \\demonstrated. To evaluate the safety of ZnONSP, shrimps (2.0 ± 0.3 g) were fed with ZnONSP containing diets (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) for 56 days. Dietary ZnONSP did not affect the weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, survival rate, zinc accumulation, and the expression of heat shock protein 70 in tested shrimps. To examine the immunomodulatory effect of ZnONSP, shrimps (16.6 ± 2.4 g) were fed with the same experimental diets for 28 days. Dietary ZnONSP improved the immune responses of haemocyte in tested shrimps, including phagocytic rate, phagocytic index, respiratory burst, and phenoloxidase activity, and upregulated the expression of several genes, including lipopolysaccharide, β-1,3-glucan binding protein, peroxinectin, penaeidin 2/3/4, lysozyme, crustin, anti-lipopolysaccharide factor, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, clotting protein and α-2-macroglobulin. In the challenge experiment, shrimps (17.2 ± 1.8 g) were fed with ZnONSP containing diets (400 and 800 mg/kg) for 7 days and then infected with Vibrio alginolyticus. Notably, white shrimps that received ZnONSP (800 mg/kg) showed significantly improved Vibrio resistance, with a survival rate of 71.4 % at the end of 7-day observation. In conclusion, this study discovers that ZnONSP is a new type of immunomodulatory supplement that are effective on enhancing innate cellular and humoral immunities, and disease resistance in white shrimp.

Effects of l-ascorbic acid on growth, non-specific immunity, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal and hepatopancreatic histology of red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii

This study investigated the dietary effects of coated l-ascorbic acid (LA) on growth, feed utilization, survival, serum biochemical indices, immunity, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal and hepatopancreatic histology of the pre-adult red swamp crayfish. Four isoproteinous and isolipidic diets were formulated to contain several LA levels as 0, 1300, 1600, and 1900 mg/kg and designated as control (LA0), LA13, LA16, and LA19, respectively. However, the analyzed LA concentrations in diets were 0.00, 199.57, 360.45, and 487.50 mg/kg in LA0, LA13, LA16, and LA19, respectively. Triplicate treatments of crayfish (21.60 ± 0.14 g) were fed the test diets and reared in fiberglass tanks with a density of 20 individuals per each for eight weeks. Results revealed that all LA treatments had significantly enhanced growth performance compared to the control. Of interest, the LA16 treatment recorded the highest final tank biomass, biomass gain, total feed intake, condition factor, and muscle yield among the other treatments. The tank feed conversion ratio was significantly decreased in LA treatments compared to the control. Moreover, dietary LA16 and LA19 had significantly higher survival rates (93.3%) compared to (85.0%) in the LA0 group. All dietary doses of LA significantly increased serum parameters (total protein, albumin, globulin, lysozyme activity) and respiratory burst activity compared to the LA0 treatment. Dietary LA16 significantly boosted the hepatopancreatic antioxidant capacity, manifested by decreased malondialdehyde concentrations, increased catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase enzyme activities, and reduced glutathione content compared to the LA-free diet. A normal histoarchitecture of the hepatopancreatic tubules was found in all LA treatments except with some minor degenerative changes in the tubular lumen, and hepatopancreatic cells associated with enlarged nuclei were found in the LA19. However, normal intestinal histoarchitecture was found in all treatments with no recorded intestinal lesions. Of interest, the polynomial regression performed on the analyzed LA concentrations suggested that 380 mg/kg would be suitable to provide maximal biomass gain for pre-adult crayfish. In conclusion, results revealed that coated LA could enhance the growth, immunity, and antioxidant capacity of pre-adult red swamp crayfish, suggesting its potential as a functional and necessary micronutrient for crayfish diets.

Global research trends in CRISPR-related technologies associated with extracellular vesicles from 2015 to 2022: a bibliometric, dynamic, and visualized study

PurposeThis study aims to explore the emerging trends, dynamic development, and research hotspots of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology associated with extracellular vesicles during the past 7 years and demonstrate them by visualization.MethodsA total of 219 records related to CRISPR technology associated with extracellular vesicles from 2015 to 2022 in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database were collected. R language, VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and GraphpadPrism software packages were used to analyze the history of this research, the general characteristics of the literature, and keywords. Finally, the hotspots and latest trends in CRISPR technology associated with extracellular vesicles are predicted.ResultsA total of 219 articles were collected for this study. The production of publications about CRISPR technology associated with extracellular vesicles has increased annually. Researchers from China, the USA, and Germany made the most important contributions to this trend, while RLUK Research Libraries UK offers the largest amount of literature in this field. Shenzhen University, Nanjing Medicine University, and Peking University exhibited the closest cooperation. Additionally, active topics burst during different periods, as identified according to 317 keywords belonging to 39 disciplines. Keywords were clustered into seven research subareas, namely exosome, nanovesicles, DNA, gene editing, gene therapy, cancer therapy, and endometrial stromal cells. The alluvial map of keywords reveals that the most enduring concepts are gene therapy, nanovesicles, etc., while the emerging keywords are genome, protein delivery, plasma, etc.ConclusionsWe reviewed 219 previous publications and conducted the first bibliometric study of CRISPR technology related to extracellular vesicles from 2015 to 2022. This comprehensive summary constructed a knowledge map and demonstrates the trends in this area. The current trends and potential hotpots for this topic are also identified, which will be a great help for researchers in the future.

Feasibility and Acceptability of a Physical Exercise Program Embedded Into the Daily Lives of Older Adults Living in Nursing Homes: A Pilot Feasibility Study.

The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility and acceptability of a staff-delivered physical exercise program embedded into the daily lives of older adults living in nursing homes. A randomized controlled pilot feasibility study was carried out, which included quantitative, qualitative, and economic assessments at baseline, 12weeks, and 12months. Two nursing homes (one intervention and one control) took part. The exercise program was carried out on 3days per week for 12weeks and consisted of a program of Morning Movement (walking and sit-to-stand exercises) and Activity Bursts. The results confirm that the intervention and study processes are largely acceptable and feasible to implement in the nursing home setting. Potential short-term improvements in physical mobility and quality of life were noticed as positive mean changes and supported by qualitative assessment. Future randomized controlled trials should consider using the 6-meter walk test and refining nursing home and participant eligibility criteria.

On the Relevance of Posterior and Midfrontal Theta Activity for Visuospatial Attention.

The aim of this study was to examine whether oscillatory activity in the theta-band is relevant for selective visuospatial attention when there is a strong need for the suppression of interfering and distracting information. A variant of the Eriksen flanker task was employed with bilateral arrays: one array consisting of a target and congruent or incongruent flankers and the second array consisting of neutral distractors. The bilateral arrays were preceded either by a 100% valid spatial cue or by a neutral cue. In the cue-target interval, a major burst in medial frontal theta power was observed, which was largest in the spatial cue condition. In the latter condition, additionally a posterior theta increase was observed that was larger over sites ipsilateral to the forthcoming target array. Functional connectivity analyses revealed that this pretarget posterior theta was related to the midfrontal theta. No such effects were observed in the neutral cue condition. After onset of the bilateral arrays, a major burst in posterior theta activity was observed in both cue conditions, which again was larger above sites ipsilateral to the target array. Furthermore, this posterior theta was in all cases related to the midfrontal theta. Taken together, the findings suggest that a fronto-posterior theta network plays an important role in the suppression of irrelevant and conflicting visual information. The results also suggest that the reciprocal relation between visuospatial attention and executive response control may be closer than commonly thought.

Enterovirus E infects bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Implications for pathogenesis?

Enterovirus E (EV-E) is a common viral pathogen endemic in cattle worldwide. Little is known, however, about its potential interactions with bovine immune cells. The EV-E-permissiveness of bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was evaluated. The infectious titres of extracellular virus were measured and the intracellular viral RNA levels were determined by reverse transcription quantitative PCR after cell inoculation. The effects of EV-E on cell viability and proliferative response were investigated with a methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium bromide reduction assay, the percentages of main lymphocyte subsets and oxidative burst activity of blood phagocytes were determined with flow cytometry, and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion was measured with an ELISA. Enterovirus E productively infected bovine PBMCs. The highest infectious dose of EV-E decreased cell viability and T-cell proliferation. All of the tested doses of virus inhibited the proliferation of high responding to lipopolysaccharide B cells and stimulated the secretion of interleukin 1β, interleukin 6 and tumour necrosis factor α pro-inflammatory cytokines. Interactions of EV-E with bovine immune cells may indicate potential evasion mechanisms of the virus. There is also a risk that an infection with this virus can predispose the organism to secondary infections, especially bacterial ones.