Fm Values Research Articles

Relationship of Vitamin D Status with Biomarkers of Muscle Damage and Body Composition in Spanish Elite Female Football Players: A Cross-Sectional Study

Recently, there has been a growing interest in relation to the female athlete, especially in widespread disciplines such as football. Concerns about vitamin D deficiency status have recently been considered due to its effects on the performance and health status of female footballers. However, its relationship to body composition and muscle damage in female football athletes remains unclear to date. The purpose of the present study was to analyse the association of the vitamin D status of Spanish elite female football players with anthropometric variables and markers of muscle damage. Ethical consent was obtained from a total of 21 players from a Spanish elite women’s football team (20–33 years). Anthropometric analysis was carried out according to the standardised protocol of the International Society for the Advancement of Kineanthropometry (ISAK). The clinical analyses, based on urine and blood samples, were carried out by the club’s medical staff at the start of the season in the early morning in a fasting state. The athletes were also asked about the regularity of their menstrual cycle and some dietary habits. Thirty-three percent of the female athletes had vitamin D levels below the reference values. Significantly higher FM values were observed in athletes with low vitamin D status (p < 0.05), as well as statistically significant negative correlations between vitamin D levels and FM (p < 0.05) in the group of female players with vitamin D levels below the baseline values. No significant associations were observed between markers of muscle damage and the other variables. Complementing an assessment of body composition with a biochemical analysis of vitamin D levels may be an interesting strategy in the process of monitoring the elite female football player throughout the season.

Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis on growth and biochemical characteristics of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) seedlings under low phosphorus environment.

The continuous establishment of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantations across multiple generations has led to the limited impact of soil phosphorus (P) on tree growth. This challenge poses a significant obstacle in maintaining the sustainable management of Chinese fir. To investigate the effects of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the growth and physiological characteristics of Chinese fir under different P supply treatments. We conducted an indoor pot simulation experiment in the greenhouse of the Forestry College of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University with one-and-half-year-old seedlings of Chinese fir from March 2019 to June 2019, with the two P level treatment groups included a normal P supply treatment (1.0 mmolL-1 KH2PO4, P1) and a no P supply treatment (0 mmolL-1 KH2PO4, P0). P0 and P1 were inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae (F.m) or Rhizophagus intraradices (R.i) or not inoculated with AMF treatment. The AMF colonization rate in the root system, seedling height (SH), root collar diameter (RCD) growth, chlorophyll (Chl) photosynthetic characteristics, enzyme activities, and endogenous hormone contents of Chinese fir were estimated. The results showed that the colonization rate of F.m in the roots of Chinese fir seedlings was the highest at P0, up to 85.14%, which was 1.66 times that of P1. Under P0 and P1 treatment, root inoculation with either F.m or R.i promoted SH growth, the SH of R.i treatment was 1.38 times and 1.05 times that of F.m treatment, respectively. In the P1 treatment, root inoculation with either F.m or R.i inhibited RCD growth. R.i inhibited RCD growth more aggressively than F.m. In the P0 treatment, root inoculation with F.m and R.i reduced the inhibitory effect of phosphorus deficiency on RCD. At this time, there was no significant difference in RCD between F.m, R.i and CK treatments (p < 0.05). AMF inoculation increased Fm, Fv, Fv/Fm, and Fv/Fo during the chlorophyll fluorescence response in the tested Chinese fir seedlings. Under the two phosphorus supply levels, the trend of Fv and Fm of Chinese fir seedlings in different treatment groups was F.m > R.i > CK. Under P0 treatment, The values of Fv were 235.86, 221.86 and 147.71, respectively. The values of Fm were 287.57, 275.71 and 201.57, respectively. It increased the antioxidant enzyme activity and reduced the leaf's malondialdehyde (MDA) content to a certain extent. It is concluded that AMF can enhance the photosynthetic capacity of the host, regulate the distribution of endogenous hormones in plants, and promote plant growth by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes. When the P supply is insufficient, AMF is more helpful to plants, and R.i is more effective than F.m in alleviating P starvation stress in Chinese fir.

Impact of phosphorus omission fertilizer on growth, nutritional status, biochemical and physiological parameters in a Pinus taeda L. plantation

Low availability of phosphorus (P) in the soil is one of the factors limiting the productivity of Pinus taeda plantations. Phosphate fertilizer application in Pinus shows divergence in growth responses. Thus, understanding the response of plant photosynthetic efficiency and growth in relation to phosphate fertilizer application can serve as a basis to guide management practices in Pinus taeda plantations. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of P omission fertilizer on growth parameters, nutritional, biochemical, and physiological status of a Pinus taeda L. plantation. The experiment was conducted on a Pinus taeda plantation subjected to P fertilization: Control - without addition of N, P and K; P–fertilized - with addition of N, P and K; and P–omission - addition of N and K, and P omission fertilizer. The parameters height, stem and canopy diameter and productivity factor, P concentration in needles, soil available P, electron transport rate (ETRm), maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm), initial (Fo) and maximum (Fm) fluorescence, chlorophyll a, b and total, carotenoids, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), lipid peroxidation (TBARS), and acid phosphatase activity, were evaluated. P fertilized application increased soil available P, providing largest P uptake by roots and P concentration in needles. The increase in available soil P contributed to elevate photosynthetic parameters, such as ETRm, Fv/Fm, chlorophyll a, b and total, and carotenoids. These factors contributed to increase C assimilation, height, stem and canopy diameter and productivity factor parameters. On the other hand, the P–omission and control conditioned the growth of Pinus taeda under stress, elevating the values of Fo, Fm, SOD and POD, which reduced plant development.

Spina bifida and cardiorespiratory profile: the impact of leisure sport activities on physical fitness.

The aim of the present study is to evaluate a population of young patients affected by Spina Bifida (SB) to describe their cardiorespiratory function and bone mineral density profile, analyzing any differences between people performing and those who do not perform sports activity. The study also aimed to rule out possible congenital heart disease associated with spina bifida, considering the common origin of certain cardiac structures with those found to be altered in SB patients. Thirty-four young patients, aged between 12 and 22years, diagnosed with spinal dysraphism (SD), have been clinically described and, in order to evaluate their physical fitness, functional capacity and bone mass, almost all of them underwent a complete cardiorespiratory assessment, including electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPET), body composition analysis using bioimpedance analysis (BIA) and Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA), as well as the estimation of bone mineral density (BMD) with Computerized Bone Mineralometry (CBM). Collected data demonstrated that only 35% of the subjects practiced physical activity during the week. BMI and percentage FM values were pathological in at least 50% of the population. On cardiological investigations (ECG and echocardiogram), no significant alterations were found. In all patients who performed CPET (79.4%), pathological values of the main functional capacity parameters were revealed, especially peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak), even when corrected for BCM or FFM estimated at BIA and DEXA, respectively. In the CBM analysis, out of 27 patients in whom the femoral T-score was evaluated, a condition of osteopenia was revealed in 40.7% of the patients (11/27) and osteoporosis in 18.5% (5/27); out of 27 patients in whom the lumbar T-score was evaluated, 37% of the patients showed osteopenia (10/27) and 29.6% osteoporosis (8/27). When the comparison between exercising and non-exercising patients was performed, the only statistically significant difference that emerged was the median lumbar T-score value, which appeared lower in the group not performing physical activity (p = 0,009). The extensive cardiorespiratory evaluation, including CPET, of our cohort of spina bifida patients showed altered values of the main parameters related to cardiorespiratory fitness and is the only study in the literature that analysed bone mineralization values in physically active and sedentary spina bifida patients and demonstrated a statistically significant difference. Furthermore, it is the only study to date that investigated the possible association of congenital heart diseases with SD, without demonstrating the existence of pathological conditions.

Ripening Process of Tomato Fruits Postharvest: Impact of Environmental Conditions on Quality and Chlorophyll a Fluorescence Characteristics

This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of temperature and light conditions on tomato maturation. Tomato fruits that had completed volumetric growth at the mature green stage were harvested and matured in growth chambers composed of two temperature conditions (daytime–nighttime: 30–20 °C or 20–15 °C) and two light conditions (0 µmol·m−2·s−1 or 400 µmol·m−2·s−1), which were set for 12 h each day and night. Our findings indicate that tomato ripening was significantly influenced by both light and temperature. Tomatoes that matured under low-temperature conditions in the absence of light took more than three times longer to transition from the green stage to the breaker stage compared to those matured under high-temperature conditions with light exposure. Notably, tomato fruit maturation occurred at a faster rate under low-temperature and light conditions than under high-temperature and dark conditions. Changes in chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters were observed throughout the ripening process of tomato fruits. Tomato fruits ripened under low-temperature and dark conditions exhibited significantly lower NPQ (non-photochemical quenching) and RFD (relative fluorescence decrease) values compared to other treatments, while their FO (initial fluorescence) and FM (maximum fluorescence) values were higher. The accumulation of sugar in tomato fruits was observed to be more influenced by light than temperature. On the other hand, the highest levels of phenolic content and lycopene were observed in tomato fruits matured under high-temperature and light conditions. Antioxidant activities, as measured by ABTS and DPPH assays, were highest in mature tomato fruits under high-temperature and light conditions, while they were lowest in fruits under low-temperature and dark conditions. In conclusion, this study highlights the critical role of temperature and light as crucial environmental factors influencing tomato maturation. Understanding these factors can contribute to optimizing postharvest conditions and enhancing fruit quality in the tomato industry.

Association between smoking status and body composition parameters in a young adult population

The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between smoking status and body composition parameters in 19–30 years old slovak population (mean age: 22,38 ± 2,34 years). The sample consisted of 379 individuals, including 143 men and 236 women. Body composition parameters were obtained using segmentation bioimpedance analysis. The results of our study showed that regular smokers had significantly higher values of waist circumference (p = 0.050), body mass index (p = 0.042), waist-toheight ratio (p = 0.027), fat mass index (p = 0.014) fat mass (p &lt; 0.017), pecentual body fat (p = 0.008), trunk fat mass (FM, p = 0.008), leg fat mass (p = 0.029), and visceral fat area (p = 0.017) compared to non-smokers. Using correlation analysis, we detected an increase in FM (kg) values along with the frequency of smoking (r = 0,136; p = 0,009). Moreover, smoking positively correlated with coffee (r = 0.147; p = 0.002), energy drinks (r = 0.259; p &lt; 0.001), and alcohol consumption (r = 0.101; p = 0.035). Smokers also added salt to their food more often (r = 0.132; p = 0.005) and worked less (r = -0.111; p = 0.025). In this study we confirmed the significant association of smoking with the body composition components, while it is responsible for higher adiposity in young adults.

Estimation of FMO3 Ontogeny by Mechanistic Population Pharmacokinetic Modelling of Risdiplam and Its Impact on Drug-Drug Interactions in Children.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a progressive neuromuscular disease caused by insufficient levels of survival motor neuron (SMN) protein. Risdiplam (EvrysdiTM) increases SMN protein and is approved for the treatment of SMA. Risdiplam has high oral bioavailability and is primarily eliminated through hepatic metabolism by flavin-containing monooxygenase3 (FMO3) and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A, by 75% and 20%, respectively. While the FMO3 ontogeny is critical input data for the prediction of risdiplam pharmacokinetics (PK) in children, it was mostly studied in vitro, and robust in vivo FMO3 ontogeny is currently lacking. We derived in vivo FMO3 ontogeny by mechanistic population PK modelling of risdiplam and investigated its impact on drug-drug interactions in children. Population and physiologically based PK (PPK and PBPK) modelling conducted during the development of risdiplam were integrated into a mechanistic PPK (Mech-PPK) model to estimate in vivo FMO3 ontogeny. A total of 10,205 risdiplam plasma concentration-time data from 525 subjects aged 2 months-61 years were included. Six different structural models were examined to describe the in vivo FMO3 ontogeny. Impact of the newly estimated FMO3 ontogeny on predictions of drug-drug interaction (DDI) in children was investigated by simulations for dual CYP3A-FMO3 substrates including risdiplam and theoretical substrates covering a range of metabolic fractions (fm) of CYP3A and FMO3 (fmCYP3A:fmFMO3= 10%:90%, 50%:50%, 90%:10%). All six models consistently predicted higher FMO3 expression/activity in children, reaching a maximum at the age of 2 years with an approximately threefold difference compared with adults. Different trajectories of FMO3 ontogeny in infants < 4 months of age were predicted by the six models, likely due to limited observationsfor this age range. Use of this in vivo FMO3 ontogeny function improved prediction of risdiplam PK in children compared toin vitro FMO3 ontogeny functions. The simulations of theoretical dual CYP3A-FMO3 substrates predicted comparable or decreased CYP3A-victim DDI propensity in children compared to adults across the range of fm values. Refinement of FMO3 ontogeny in the risdiplam model had no impact on the previously predicted low CYP3A-victim or -perpetrator DDI risk of risdiplam in children. Mech-PPK modelling successfully estimated in vivo FMO3 ontogeny from risdiplam data collected from 525 subjects aged 2 months-61 years. To our knowledge, this is the first investigation of in vivo FMO3 ontogeny by population approach using comprehensive data covering a wide age range. Derivation of arobust in vivo FMO3 ontogeny function has significant implications on the prospective prediction of PK and DDI in children for other FMO3 substrates in the future, as illustrated in the current study for FMO3 and/or dual CYP3A-FMO3 substrates. NCT02633709, NCT03032172, NCT02908685, NCT02913482, NCT03988907.

In silico assessment of risks associated with pesticides exposure during pregnancy

Novel Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) models of compounds' placenta (PL) permeability expressed as their log FM (fetus-to-mother blood concentration) values or binary PL1/0 (crossing/non-crossing) score were generated using a number of statistical tools: Multiple Linear Regression, Boosted Trees, Principal Component Analysis and Artificial Neural Networks, on the basis of molecular descriptors calculated by Mordred software and selected using Partial Least Squares (PLS) analysis. It was established that the most important predictor of both log FM and the binary PL1/0 score is Lipinski – a binary variable reflecting the compounds' ability to satisfy the criteria of drug-likeness according to the Lipinski's “Rule of 5”. The quantitative (log FM) and qualitative (PL1/0) models of PL permeability were applied to 345 pesticides from different chemical families (triazines, carbamates, pyrethroids, organochlorine, organophosphorus and miscellaneous compounds). The ability of studied pesticides to cross the placenta was assessed; the basic physico-chemical parameters responsible for good or poor placenta transport of pesticides were identified and the relationships between the pesticides' PL permeability, blood-brain barrier (BBB) transfer and gastro-intestinal (GI) absorption were investigated. It was found (on the basis of logistic regression analysis) that the probability of a compound crossing the placenta (PL1) is inversely correlated with its lipophilicity and molar refractivity and positively correlated with the total count of oxygen and nitrogen atoms.

Fracture strength and energy-dispersive spectroscopy analysis of 3-unit fixed partial dentures fabricated from different monolithic zirconia materials

Statement of problemMastication forces in different regions affect the survival of multiunit posterior restorations. The fracture strength of 3-unit posterior monolithic zirconia fixed partial dentures (FPDs) and their fracture patterns require investigation. PurposeThe purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate and compare the fracture strength and fracture pattern of 3-unit posterior FPDs fabricated from different monolithic zirconia materials. Material and methodsThirty 3-unit FPDs were fabricated from BruxZir, FireZr, and Upcera (n=10 per group). Energy-dispersive spectroscopy analysis was performed on 2 selected specimens from each group. All specimens were exposed to a mastication simulator for 1.2×106 cycles and then monotonically loaded to fracture at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. The surfaces of a selected fractured specimen were examined at magnifications of ×25 and ×500 with scanning electron microscopy. Conformity to normal distribution was evaluated with the Shapiro-Wilk test. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the normally distributed initial crack formation load F initial (Fi) and catastrophic failure strength F maximum (Fm) means by group. Weibull statistics were calculated by using the maximum likelihood estimation method. The chi-square test was used to compare shape and scale parameters (α=.05). ResultsThe mean Fm values were fail1878.9 N for Upcera, 2177.8 N for BruxZir, and 2229.4 N for FireZr. Upcera and BruxZir showed statistically significant differences for the Fm mean values (P=.039). The differences between the fracture type distributions according to the groups were statistically similar (P>.05). For Fi, Upcera presented the highest Weibull modulus value (2.199), FireZr had the lowest (1.594), while for Fm, BruxZir had the highest Weibull modulus value (9.267) and FireZr the lowest (6.572). ConclusionsUsing the zirconia materials BruxZir, FireZr, and Upcera resulted in high Fm values after aging procedures. With all materials, the fractures were most commonly found in the connector areas in the tested FPDs.

Fat and fat-free mass as important determinants of body composition assessment in relation to sarcopenic obesity.

Fat and fat-free/muscle mass and their ratio reflecting the possible presence of obesity or sarcopenic obesity are important in assessing body composition. The aim of the work was to assess the use of fat and fat-free mass and their ratio in the diagnosis of sarcopenic obesity, as well as correlations with selected anthropometric, somatic and biochemical parameters and indices. The object of the study was a group of 201 women (20-68 aged) randomly selected from the population without the presence of a serious disease or without the use of medication. Body composition was assessed by the MFBIA method (InBody 720). We used the ratio of fat to fat-free mass (FM/FFM) to define sarcopenic obesity. A Biolis 24i Premium biochemical analyzer was used to determine biochemical parameters. Using FM and FFM values and their mutual ratio, we identified women with a healthy body weight (28.9%), obese women (58.2%) and women with sarcopenic obesity (12.9%). Values of anthropometric parameters (body weight, BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR, BAI, FM (kg, %), FMI, VFA, FFM (kg), FFMI, SMM (kg), SMMI, ICW, ECW, TBW, CHC, HC), with the exception of FFM (%), SMM (%) and TBW (%), increased significantly with increasing FM/FFM values, so the highest values were found in subjects with sarcopenic obesity. In the case of biochemical parameters, with increasing FM/FFM values, the values of T-CH, LDL, TAG, GLU, hs-CRP, UA, systolic and diastolic blood pressure also increased, so the highest values were again found in women with sarcopenic obesity. HDL values, on the contrary, decreased. FM/FFM had the strongest positive association with the proportion of fat mass on body weight (r=0.989), then with FMI (r=0.980), FM (r=0.965), VFA (r=0.938), WHtR (r=0.937), BMI (r=0.922), WC (r=0.901. We found the strongest negative association with the proportion of FFM on body weight (r=-0.989), the proportion of total body water (r=-0.988) and the proportion of skeletal muscle mass (r=-0.987). FM/FFM correlates excellently with FM and VFA and can be implemented to diagnose obesity. In order to comprehensively evaluate the state of health and body composition, the proportionality of not only fat, but also fat-free/muscle mass should be analyzed, because it turns out that a negative impact on health and survival is associated not only with an excessive amount of adipose tissue, but also with a lower muscle mass.

Morphology, growth, and photosynthesis of Ulva prolifera O.F. Müller (Chlorophyta, Ulvophyceae) gametophytes, the dominant green tide species in the Southern Yellow Sea

Green tide with the main dominant species is Ulva prolifera O.F. Müller have been reported in the Southern Yellow Sea since 2007. This study investigated differences in the morphology, growth, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and chloroplast pigment content of different day-aged U. prolifera gametophytes. Gametes had two flagella and exhibited positive phototaxis. On the 7th day of culture, young gametophytes began to branch out. Changes in the length and width of the main branches, and the length of the first-level branches showed “S”-shaped growth within 0–30 days, while the fresh weight of single algae exhibited “J”-shaped growth. The average fresh and dry weight of U. prolifera was 12.32 and 1.38 g per thallus, respectively, when cultured from one gamete to 30 days. The average number of first-level branches of 10-day-aged thalli was 119 per blade, and the maximum branching level was one. The average number of first-level branches of 30-day-aged thalli was 243 per thallus, and the maximum branching level was five. Except for the NPQ and IK values of 0 d thalli compared with 10 d thalli, the IK value of 0 d compared with 20 d, the NPQ, ETRmax and IK value of 10 d compared with 20 d, and the Alpha value of 10 d compared with 30 d, the Fv / Fm, YII, NPQ, ETRmax, IK and Alpha values of the other 0 d, 10 d, 20 d and 30 d thalli showed significant or extremely significant differences. There was no significant difference in the Chl b / Car value between 0 d and 10 d, the Chl b value between 10 d and 20 d, the Chla / Car value between 10 d and 30 d, and the Car value between 20 d and 30 d was significantly different. The Chl a, Chl b, Car, Chl a / Chl b, Chl a / Car and Chl b / Car values of the other 0 d, 10 d, 20 d and 30 d were highly significantly different. These results not only verify that U. prolifera gametophytes can directly develop into new thalli by parthenogenesis, but also reveal the morphological and physiological characteristics of different day-aged gametophytes. In addition to presenting the typical morphology of different-day-aged gametophytes, this study also reports significant differences in growth, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and chloroplast pigment contents among them. This revealed the physiological mechanism of varying growth rates of different day-aged U. prolifera. These findings provide essential reference information for green tide prevention and outbreak mechanism research.

A speakerless acoustic thermometer

Existing acoustic thermometers are often implemented using speaker-microphone systems, which are power-consuming and inconvenient to operate. Here we demonstrate a simple speakerless acoustic thermometer, which is an acoustic Fabry–Perot resonator (AFPR) consisting of a tubular acoustic waveguide and a microphone whose diaphragm acts as a reflective surface of the AFPR. Theoretical analysis shows that the resonant frequency (RF) ( fm ) at a given mode order (m) for the AFPR is a linear function of m with the slope (Δf/Δm) depending on the ambient temperature. Therefore, when the linear relationship between fm and m for the AFPR is measured, the ambient temperature can be determined from its slope. The values of fm at different m can be easily obtained by using the AFPR to detect ambient white noise rather than the sound signal from a loudspeaker. The thermometric performance of the prepared AFPR was investigated in a range of temperatures from −17 °C to 60 °C. The measured temperatures show the mean absolute error below 0.9 °C relative to those simultaneously obtained with a commercial electronic thermometer. As experimentally demonstrated in this work, the AFPR can detect extremely weak white noise in the anechoic room and thus enables to accurate measure the ambient temperature there, attributable to its ultrahigh pressure sensitivity at each RF. The advantages of simple structure, low power consumption, convenient operation, and high detection accuracy offer the AFPR outstanding applicability for on-site temperature measurements in various environments.

Modeling the Population Response of Alligator Gar in Texoma Reservoir to Harvest and Discard Mortality

AbstractThe popularity of angling for Alligator Gar Atractosteus spatula is an essential component of fisheries management and can affect population resilience. In most cases with Alligator Gar, development of biological assessment models to assess stocks is often unavailable. For this reason, we aimed at describing Alligator Gar demographic rates and population size in Texoma Reservoir, Oklahoma. We used these data to parameterize an age‐structured simulation model to determine population responses of maximized yield, total catch, catch of trophy fish, and fishery sustainability to a range of instantaneous finite fishing mortality rates (FM) and discard mortality rates (D) in approximating ideal harvest strategies. Our simulations suggest that the Alligator Gar population is highly sensitive to increases in exploitation. Under the current management regulations, an FM of 0.00–0.05 would have a limited impact on sustainability, which would result in negligible growth as an effect of stochastic recruitment. If FM reaches or exceeds 0.06, the current regulations would not be effective at sustaining the population (spawning potential ratio &lt;0.30). At FM values greater than 0.10, the probability of the population declining from the current population estimate (1,947 fish) to less than 500 individuals would increase from 20% to 100%, resulting in the collapse of the population over 100 years, especially if D is greater than 0.10. Use of a 1,524‐mm minimum length limit had the potential to allow FM values of up to 0.10 while absorbing a low amount of D. The use of length limits may provide some options for sustaining the Alligator Gar population, although their efficacy is limited by D when FM exceeds 0.06. Given the sensitivity of long‐lived, periodically recruiting fishes to exploitation and given the benefits that possible length‐based regulations or a tag/lottery system can provide, we encourage managers to continue monitoring Alligator Gar populations, and when concerning trends are observed, managers should consider such regulations to increase resilience to FM and increase sustainability.

An innovative passive sampler to reveal the high contribution of biomass burning to black carbon over Indo-China Peninsula: Radiocarbon constraints

Black carbon (BC) is an important component of the brown clouds, contributing to climate and health effects of air pollution. In this work, we developed a new method for measuring BC concentrations and its radiocarbon isotope (14C) using quartz wool disk passive air samplers (Pas-QW). A field calibration study was conducted at two sampling sites (Guangzhou and Yantai), using an improved thermal/optical method to measure BC. Uptake profiles of Pas-QW were linear over the 77 days that the samplers were deployed, and the average sampling rate of BC measured was 1.1 ± 0.2 m3/day. The method was found to be reproducible with coefficients of variation as low as 17% for BC measured in ambient passive samples. Furthermore, passive sampling was carried out at six sites in the Indo-China Peninsula (ICP) from January to April and June to September of 2016. The high BC concentrations and the high fraction of modern carbon (fM) values emphasizes that ICP is still dominated by biomass burning emissions (residential cooking and agricultural burning), both in dry and wet seasons. This study provides a proof concept and methodology for the application of Pas-QW to cost-effectively expand measurements of BC at the global scale.

ETAPAS DO ENVELHECIMENTO REPRODUTIVO: EFEITOS NOS NÍVEIS DE ADIPOSIDADE, ATIVIDADE FÍSICA E VISITA À NATUREZA

Introduction: Menopause marks an extensive period of hormonal changes in women. Estrogen depletion, combined with the aging process, increases fat mass, particularly intra-abdominal fat, and generates a decrease in muscle and bone mass, affecting women's usual levels of physical activity (PA) and compromising their quality of life. Exposure to the natural environment confers numerous health benefits, however, much remains unknown about the differences in the nature visits according to a woman's reproductive stages, and often PA levels are measured through questionnaires. Purpose: This study analyzed the variation of adiposity levels, PA and nature visits according to the stages of reproductive aging in women. Methods In this cross-sectional study, women aged 18 to 75 were categorized in the reproductive age (G1, n=94), menopausal transition (G2, n=12) and postmenopause (G3, n=36), considering the reproductive aging stages described in STRAW +10. Fat mass (FM, %) and visceral fat area (VFA) were assessed by octopolar bioimpedance (InBody 720). Physical activity (moderate-vigorous and steps/day) was measured using ActiGraph accelerometers (wGT3X-BT) and nature visits were assessed through a questionnaire. Analyses of variance were used to analyze the data. Some transformations of the variables were conducted, to normalize their distribution (moderate-vigorous PA) or to improve their asymmetry (VFA and nature visits). The standard significance level was set a p ≤0.05. Results: A higher percentage of women with obesity (%FM and VFA) and non-recommended levels of moderate-vigorous PA were recorded in group 3 (77.8%, 83.3%, and 72.2% respectively). Half of the women in G2 had high levels of total and central adiposity and levels of MVPA &amp;lt;150 minutes/week. Our results showed that women in G1 had lower percentage (p 0.01) FM values (28.24%) than those exhibited by women in G2 (34.25%) and G3 (36.55%), with 24% of the relative fat mass variation explained by the reproductive aging stages. For a type I error &amp;lt;0.05, there was a greater than 99% probability that percentage FM values varied with reproductive aging stages. The variation of VFA was also explained by reproductive aging stages by 46%, and differences (p &amp;lt;0.01) were identified between groups G1-G2 and G1-G3. Our results further documented that with reproductive aging, there is a decrease in moderate-vigorous PA levels, and differences (p &amp;lt;0.01) were observed between G1-G3. No differences were observed between reproductive stages for steps/day (p &amp;gt;0.05) and nature visits (p =0.17). Conclusions: Our results suggest that postmenopausal women evidence increased levels of total and central adiposity and simultaneously, limited levels of physical activity compared to women in the reproductive phase. These findings underline the need to implement PA programs oriented to weight control and to encourage the regular practice of PA adjusted to the needs evidenced by these women, contributing to a better quality of life for them. Funding: This work is supported by National Funds by FCT-Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, under the projects UIDB/04033/2020, UID04045/2020 and UIDB/00073/2020. The investigation was also supported by European funding program Interreg Atlantic Area, under the project (EAPA_772/2018-Triple-C).

An improved method for cytochrome p450 reaction phenotyping using a sequential qualitative-then-quantitative approach.

Cytochrome P450 reaction phenotyping to determine the fraction of metabolism values (fm) for individual enzymes is a standard study in the evaluation of a new drug. However, there are technical challenges in these studies caused by shortcomings in the selectivity of P450 inhibitors and unreliable scaling procedures for recombinant P450 (rCYP) data. In this investigation, a two-step "qualitative-then-quantitative" approach to P450 reaction phenotyping is described. In the first step, each rCYP is tested qualitatively for potential to generate metabolites. In the second step, selective inhibitors for the P450s identified in step1 are tested for their effects on metabolism using full inhibition curves. Forty-eight drugs were evaluated in step 1 and there were no examples of missing an enzyme important to in vivo clearance. Five drugs (escitalopram, fluvastatin, pioglitazone, propranolol, and risperidone) were selected for full phenotyping in step2 to determine fm values, with findings compared to fm values estimated from single inhibitor concentration data and rCYP with intersystem-extrapolation-factor corrections. The two-step approach yielded fm values for major drug clearing enzymes that are close to those estimated from clinical data: escitalopram and CYP2C19 (0.42 vs 0.36-0.82), fluvastatin and CYP2C9 (0.76 vs 0.76), pioglitazone and CYP2C8 (0.72 vs 0.73), propranolol and CYP2D6 (0.68 vs 0.37-0.56) and risperidone and CYP2D6 (0.60 vs 0.66-0.88). Reaction phenotyping data generated in this fashion should offer better input to physiologically-based pharmacokinetic models for prediction of DDI and impact of genetic polymorphisms on drug clearance. The qualitative-then-quantitative approach is proposed as a replacement to standard reaction phenotyping strategies. Significance Statement P450 reaction phenotyping is important for projecting drug-drug interactions and interpatient variability in drug exposure. However, currently recommended practices can frequently fail to provide reliable estimates of the fractional contributions of specific P450 enzymes (fm) to drug clearance. In this report, we describe a two-step qualitative-then-quantitative reaction phenotyping approach that yields more accurate estimates of fm.

Body Composition in Preschool Children and the Association With Prepregnancy Weight and Gestational Weight Gain: An Ambispective Cohort Study.

ObjectiveTo describe the body composition in preschool children and to evaluate the association with prepregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain (GWG).MethodsChildren were recruited in their first year in kindergarten (3 years old) and followed up for the next 2 years. Information during pregnancy and birth was retrieved from medical records. Height, weight, fat mass, fat-free mass, and percentage of body fat (FM%) were measured through a bioelectrical impedance analysis for each child visit, and BMI, fat mass index (FMI), and fat-free mass index (FFMI) were calculated. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) were used to evaluate the associations between prepregnancy weight, GWG, and adiposity indicators.ResultsA total of 3,329 single-birth 3-year-old children were recruited as the baseline population and were followed at 4 and 5 years old. During the 3 years of follow-up, the mean (±SD) values of BMI, FMI, FFMI, and FM% of the children were 15.6 (±1.6) kg/m2, 2.8 (±1.3) kg/m2, 12.8 (±0.7) kg/m2, and 17.2% (±5.8%), respectively. The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity in mothers before pregnancy were 16.6 and 3.2%, respectively. Mothers were divided into three groups based on GWG: appropriate (1,233, 37.0%), excessive (767, 23.0%), and insufficient (1,329, 39.9%). GLMMs analyses showed that the preschool children’s BMI, FMI, FFMI, and FM% were all significantly positively related to maternal prepregnancy BMI and GWG (all P < 0.001); the children of mothers who were overweight/obese before pregnancy were more likely to be overweight/obese, high FMI, high FFMI, and high FM% at preschool age (all P < 0.001); although maternal excessive GWG was not correlated with offspring’s overweight/obese (P = 0.156), the children of mothers with excessive GWG are more likely to have higher FMI, but not to be with a higher FFMI status than the children of mothers with appropriate GWG. For prepregnancy overweight/obese women, compared with the GWG-appropriate group, maternal excessive GWG was related to the risk of high FMI (coefficient = 0.388, 95% CI: 0.129–0.647) and high FM% (coefficient = 0.352, 95% CI: 0.097–0.607), but was not related to the risk of overweight/obese or high FFMI of the offspring at preschool age.ConclusionFat mass index decreased with age, while FFMI increased with age among 3- to 5-year-old children. It is necessary to optimize maternal weight prior to conception and GWG management to improve the health outcomes of the offspring.

Environmental transfer parameters of strontium for soil to cow milk pathway for tropical monsoonal climatic region of the Indian subcontinent

The radionuclide transfer between compartments is commonly described by transfer parameters representing the ratio of concentrations of an element in two compartments for equilibrium conditions. This is a comprehensive study on the soil-to-grass transfer factor (Fv) and grass-to-cow milk transfer coefficient (Fm) for stable strontium (Sr) for soil-grass (pasture)-cow (Bos taurus) milk environmental pathway under field conditions for a high rainfall tropical monsoonal climatic region of the Indian subcontinent. The study was conducted in the vicinity of the Kaiga nuclear power plant (NPP), situated ~ 58 km inland of the West Coast of the Indian subcontinent. A grass field was developed exclusively for this study, and two cows of the native breed were raised to graze on it. The soil, grass, and milk were analyzed to evaluate the Fv and the Fm values for the stable Sr. For comparison, several pasture lands and the cows raised by the villagers and a dairy farm were also studied. The Fv values were in the range 0.18—8.6, the geometric mean (GM) being 1.8. The correlations of Fv values with a range of physicochemical parameters are presented. The GM values for Fm were 2.2 × 10–3 d L-1 and 7.2 × 10–3 d L-1 for the two cows raised for this study, 2.6 × 10–3 d L-1 for those raised by the villagers, and 4.2 × 10–3 d L-1 for the dairy farm. The site-specific Fm value for the region was determined as 3.2 × 10–3 d L-1. The concentration ratio (CR), defined as the ratio of Sr concentration in milk to that in feed under equilibrium conditions, exhibited less variability (1.8 × 10–2—5.4 × 10–2) among the three categories of cows.

Influence of specimen dimensions in the determination of strength and modulus of elasticity in static bending of hardwoods

In Brazil, standard ABNT NBR 7190 (1997) prescribes the determination of strength (fM) and modulus of elasticity (EM) in static bending from specimens measuring 5 cm × 5 cm × 115 cm. Thus, the relationship between the test span (L) and the specimen height (h) greater than or equal to 21 (L/h ≥ 21) is respected, ensuring that the effect of shear in the calculation of displacements is negligible (Euler Bernoulli Theory). Considering the expressive number of tree species cataloged in the Brazilian Amazon Forest, any procedure that aims to facilitate the realization of experimental tests is highly desirable because it provides the knowledge of unusual species. These wood species may potentially replace woods that have been traditionally used and historically exploited. Using five hardwood species, this research aimed to verify, while maintaining constant L/h ≥ 21 ratios, the influence of specimens dimensions in the determination of fM and EM. For all species studied, the statistical analysis found equivalence in the values of fM and EM determined as a function of the sample sizes. Therefore, respecting the ratio L/h ≥ 21, the size of the specimens does not influence the determination of strength and stiffness in static bending.

Spatial differentiation of sediment organic matter isotopic composition and inferred sources in a temperate forest lake catchment

Freshwater sediments are important carbon reservoirs, but the extent to which different components of soil or aquatic organic matter (OM) are deposited in these sediments is not well defined. Bulk sediment carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope ratios, as well as radiocarbon, are valuable tracers for sediment OM sources, but there are few studies comparing the isotopic composition of soil and sediment OM at the catchment scale. We analyzed spatial variation in δ13C, δ15N, 14C, and C:N ratios in OM from soils, stream and lake sediments, and aquatic plants and algae, in a temperate forest lake catchment in southern Quebec, and used a Bayesian model to estimate source mixtures for sediment OM. Sediments at the stream mouths entering the lake were characterized by high C:N ratios, high fraction modern carbon (Fm), and low δ13C, indicating preferential deposition of plant-derived OM. In contrast, sediments sampled further upstream during a period of low streamflow indicated a larger proportion of microbial OM based on low C:N ratios and high δ15N. In lake sediments we observed zonation of OM isotopic composition by water depth. Shallow sediments (0–1 m water depth) were characterized by high amounts of plant-derived OM, while intermediate-depth sediments (1–3 m) were characterized by high δ13C, indicating an increased input of OM from aquatic plants. Deep lake sediments (> 4 m) were characterized by low δ13C and Fm values, which likely reflect greater input of phytoplankton OM. Stream sediments downstream of the lake exhibited high δ15N and low Fm values, implying a greater input of aged microbial biomass from soils. Our results indicate catchment-scale spatial differentiation in the source of OM in sediments, with zones of preferential deposition of terrestrial plant, aquatic plant, phytoplankton, and soil microbial biomass.