Standard Conditions Research Articles

Engineering a Sinorhizobium meliloti Chassis with Monopartite, Single Replicon Genome Configuration.

Multipartite bacterial genomes pose challenges for genome engineering and the establishment of additional replicons. We simplified the tripartite genome structure (3.65 Mbp chromosome, 1.35 Mbp megaplasmid pSymA, 1.68 Mbp chromid pSymB) of the nitrogen-fixing plant symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti. Strains with bi- and monopartite genome configurations were generated by targeted replicon fusions. Our design preserved key genomic features such as replichore ratios, GC skew, KOPS, and coding sequence distribution. Under standard culture conditions, the growth rates of these strains and the wild type were nearly comparable, and the ability for symbiotic nitrogen fixation was maintained. Spatiotemporal replicon organization and segregation were maintained in the triple replicon fusion strain. Deletion of the replication initiator-encoding genes, including the oriVs of pSymA and pSymB from this strain, resulted in a monopartite genome with oriC as the sole origin of replication, a strongly unbalanced replichore ratio, slow growth, aberrant cellular localization of oriC, and deficiency in symbiosis. Suppressor mutation R436H in the cell cycle histidine kinase CckA and a 3.2 Mbp inversion, both individually, largely restored growth, but only the genomic rearrangement recovered the symbiotic capacity. These strains will facilitate the integration of secondary replicons in S. meliloti and thus be useful for genome engineering applications, such as generating hybrid genomes.

Quantum backreactions in (A)dS3 massive gravity and logarithmic asymptotic behavior

We study the interplay between higher-curvature terms and the backreaction of quantum fluctuations in three-dimensional massive gravity in asymptotically (anti–)de Sitter space. We focus on the theory at the special point of the parameter space where the two maximally symmetric vacua coincide. In the case of positive cosmological constant, this corresponds to the partially massless point, at which the classical theory admits de Sitter black holes and exhibits an extra conformal symmetry at linear level. We explicitly find the quantum corrected black hole geometry in the semiclassical approximation and show that it induces a relaxation of the standard asymptotic conditions. Nonetheless, the new asymptotic behavior is still preserved by an infinite-dimensional algebra, which, in addition to Virasoro, contains logarithmic supertranslations. Finally, we show that all the results we obtain for the quadratic massive gravity theory can be extended to theories including cubic and quartic terms in the curvature. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Modulating Buried Interface to Achieve an Ultra‐High Open Circuit Voltage in Triple Cation Perovskite Solar Cells

AbstractThis work proposes a methodology to increase the open‐circuit voltage of perovskite solar cells via modulating the buried interface using π‐conjugated molecules, featuring a push‐pull electronic structure configuration. In the planar perovskite solar cells using tin oxide nanocrystal as an electron transport layer, the 2‐methyl‐1‐aminobenzene derivatives with 4‐(Heptafluoropropan)‐2‐methylaniline notable not only reduce the interfacial energy barrier but also passivate the defects at the buried interface. This modulation enhances the open circuit voltage of Cs0.05(FA0.85MA0.15)0.95Pb(I0.85Br0.15)3 (bandgap ≈1.60 eV) perovskite solar cell to a high value of 1.241 V and thus the power conversion efficiency to 24.16% under standard testing condition. An even higher efficiency of 25.11% can be achieved when employing in the Cs0.05MA0.05FA0.9PbI3 (bandgap ≈1.54 eV) perovskite solar cell. The open circuit voltage (1.241 V) is among the highest in triple‐cation perovskite solar cells which reaches 95% Shockley–Queisser limit. A solar‐to‐CO conversion efficiency of 11.76% can be achieved in the fabricated perovskite solar minimodule driven carbon dioxide electrolyzer. This demonstrates the potential of utilizing perovskite solar cells for CO2 conversion as a clean and green energy environment.

The structure and catalytic mechanism of a pseudoknot-containing hammerhead ribozyme

We have determined the crystal structure of a pseudoknot (PK)-containing hammerhead ribozyme that closely resembles the pistol ribozyme, with essentially identical secondary structure and connectivity. The activity is more sensitive to deletion of the G8 2’OH than to the absence of magnesium ions, indicating that the catalytic mechanism is the same as the extended hammerhead, and distinct from the pistol ribozyme. Here we show that nucleophilic attack is almost perfectly in-line, and the G8 2’OH is well positioned to act as general acid, being directed towards the O5’ leaving group, and 2.9 Å away from it. Despite the similarity in overall structure to the pistol ribozyme, the local structure close to the cleavage site differs, and the PK hammerhead retains its unique mechanistic identity and demonstrates enhanced activity over other hammerhead ribozymes under standard conditions.

Application of time-temperature superposition principle for cracking characterization of asphalt mixtures using semi-circular bend test

In recent decades, numerous laboratory tests have been developed to characterize the cracking performance of asphalt mixtures. Among these, the semi-circular bend (SCB)-based Illinois flexibility index test (I-FIT) (AASHTO T 393) has emerged as a favored method due to its straightforward specimen preparation and better sensitivity to mixture variables. However, the cracking susceptibility of asphalt mixtures is significantly influenced by temperature and loading rate, leading to a discrepancy in performance between standard test conditions and real-world scenarios. To address this challenge, this study explores the applicability of the time-temperature superposition principle (TTSP) for the SCB test. The study evaluates four mixtures incorporating reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and/or reclaimed asphalt shingles (RAS) across various loading rates and temperature combinations. Findings suggest that TTSP can be applied to the SCB test without significantly impacting cracking performance indices such as flexibility index and post-peak slope. Furthermore, the study also demonstrates that TTSP can be applied in the crack propagation phase during the post-peak domain of the mixtures. The findings of the study will allow laboratories to develop more flexible testing plans without compromising the accuracy and reliability of performance parameters by adjusting the loading rate corresponding to the test temperature and vice versa. Consequently, this approach can potentially make a balanced mix design (BMD) practice more implementable.

A Simplified Evaluation Framework for Adaptation Measures to Urban Heat Islands

Adaptation measures to urban heat islands are classified into the following three categories: measures to reduce solar radiation incident on the human body, measures to control and cool ground and wall surface temperature, and measures to control and cool the air and human body temperature. Case studies are conducted to evaluate the effects of the implementation of a cool water circulation sunshade and to examine the adverse effects of cool pavements on the human thermal environment, in addition to the effects of mist sprays on the human body. The effect of the sunshade, watering road, and mist spray, which are typical adaptation measures to urban heat islands, on the human thermal environment was estimated using Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) as an indicator for heat stroke prevention and Standard New Effective Temperature (SET*) as an indicator for thermal comfort assessment. The effect of solar radiation shielding on improving the human thermal environment was the most significant, with a large decrease in the amount of solar radiation absorbed by the human body, resulting in a large decrease in SET* and WBGT of 2.7 °C and 1.0 °C, respectively, on fine summer days.

A New Variant of the Conjugate Descent Method for Solving Unconstrained Optimization Problems and Applications

Unconstrained optimization problems have a long history in computational mathematics and have been identified as being among the crucial problems in the fields of applied sciences, engineering, and management sciences. In this paper, a new variant of the conjugate descent method for solving unconstrained optimization problems is introduced. The proposed algorithm can be seen as a modification of the popular conjugate descent (CD) algorithm of Fletcher. The algorithm of the proposed method is well-defined, and the sequence of the directions of search is shown to be sufficiently descending. The convergence result of the proposed method is discussed under the common standard conditions. The proposed algorithm together with some existing ones in the literature is implemented to solve a collection of benchmark test problems. Numerical experiments conducted show the performance of the proposed method is very encouraging. Furthermore, an additional efficiency evaluation is carried out on problems arising from signal processing and it works well.

Photosynthetic capacity in middle-aged larch and spruce acclimates independently to experimental warming and elevated CO2.

Photosynthetic acclimation to both warming and elevated CO2 of boreal trees remains a key uncertainty in modelling the response of photosynthesis to future climates. We investigated the impact of increased growth temperature and elevated CO2 on photosynthetic capacity (Vcmax and Jmax) in mature trees of two North American boreal conifers, tamarack and black spruce. We show that Vcmax and Jmax at a standard temperature of 25°C did not change with warming, while Vcmax and Jmax at their thermal optima (Topt) and growth temperature (Tg) increased. Moreover, Vcmax and Jmax at either 25°C, Topt or Tg decreased with elevated CO2. The Jmax/Vcmax ratio decreased with warming when assessed at both Topt and Tg but did not significantly vary at 25°C. The Jmax/Vcmax increased with elevated CO2 at either reference temperature. We found no significant interaction between warming and elevated CO2 on all traits. If this lack of interaction between warming and elevated CO2 on the Vcmax, Jmax and Jmax/Vcmax ratio is a general trend, it would have significant implications for improving photosynthesis representation in vegetation models. However, future research is required to investigate the widespread nature of this response in a larger number of species and biomes.

Thermoneutrality Inhibits Thermogenic Markers and Exacerbates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Mice

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects over a third of the US population and 25% globally, with current treatments proving ineffective. This study investigates whether manipulating brown adipose tissue (BAT) and beige fat activity by housing C57BL/6J mice at thermoneutral (27 °C) or standard temperatures (22 °C) impacts NAFLD development. Male mice were fed either a chow diet (CHD) or a “fast food” diet (FFD) for 10 weeks. Mice at 27 °C had reduced food intake but increased body weight and plasma leptin levels. FFD-fed mice at 27 °C had greater liver weight (2.6 vs. 1.8 g), triglyceride content (7.6 vs. 3.9 mg/g), and hepatic steatosis compared to those at 22 °C. Gene expression of fatty acid synthase, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, and fatty acid translocase CD36 was elevated in FFD-fed mice at 27 °C, but not in CHD-fed mice. Thermoneutral housing also reduced expression of thermogenic markers in BAT and inguinal white adipose tissue (WAT) and caused BAT whitening. In conclusion, thermoneutrality inhibits thermogenic markers and exacerbates NAFLD. Activating BAT or promoting WAT browning via cold exposure or other stimuli may offer a strategy for managing NAFLD.

Tailoring the specificity of ficin versus large hemoglobin and small casein by co-immobilizing inert proteins on the immobilized enzyme layer and further modification with aldehyde dextran

Ficin has been immobilized at full loading on glyoxyl agarose beads. Then, ficin was blocked with 2,2′-dipyridyldisulfide. To be effective, the modification must be performed in the presence of 0.5 M urea, as the enzyme was not inhibited under standard conditions, very likely because the catalytic Cys was not fully exposed to the medium. Activity could be fully recovered by incubation with 1 M mercaptoethanol. This biocatalyst could hydrolyze hemoglobin and casein. The objective of this paper was to increase the enzyme specificity versus small proteins by generating steric hindrances to the access of large proteins. The step by step blocking via ionic exchange of the biocatalyst with aminated bovine serum albumin (BSA), aldehyde dextran and a second layer of aminated BSA produced a biocatalyst that maintained its activity versus small synthetic substrates, increased the biocatalyst stability, while reduced its activity to over 50 % versus casein. Interestingly, this treatment almost fully annulled the activity versus hemoglobin, more effectively at 37 °C than at 55 °C. The biocatalyst could be reused 5 times without changes in activity. The changes could be caused by steric hindrances, but it cannot be discarded some changes in enzyme sequence specificity caused by the modifications.

Outcome of novel combination of graphene nanoparticles and Moringa methyl ester fueled engine working under varying loads and compression ratios

The widespread use of petroleum products in modern times has led to a search for alternative resources. Biofuel is a promising alternative to petroleum fuel, but biodiesel has a lower calorific value and is slightly more denser than diesel. To address this, a novel combination of GNA emulsified MME20 fuel is being investigated. This study aims to analyze the impact of a novel Nano additive blended biodiesel on engine performance and optimize the best compression ratio for the selected blend. The novelty of the study lies in the production of novel GNA emulsified MME fuel and its influence on a conventional CI engine. To achieve the objectives of the study, MME was produced using a two-phase transesterification method, and GNA was added to the MME20 at concentrations of 30, 60, and 90 ppm using the ultrasonication method. Engine experiments were then conducted using the prepared samples at CRs of 16, 17.5, and 19, and the results were compared with the standard diesel and MME20 blend. The results showed that the CP of the MME20 + GNA30 fuel at a CR 19 revealed a 14% increase compared to diesel. The ID of the fuel decreased by 20% compared to diesel at CR19, and there was a 23.5% increase in the CD for the MME20 + GNA30 blend compared to diesel at CR19. The BTHE for the MME20 + GNA30 fuel showed increases of 2.64% and BSFC and EGT decreases of 3.6% and 3.9%, respectively, at CR19 compared to the other blends. In summary, the study found that MME20 with GNA30, along with VCR, significantly enhanced the engine attributes compared to the pure diesel-operated standard CI engine conditions.

Determination of riding comfort on cycleways using a smartphone application

Well maintained cycleways will encourage more people to cycle, as the condition of cycleways is important for the safety, accessibility and riding comfort of cyclists. Despite the surface condition and quality of cycleways having a significant impact on the cycling experience, only a few models used to describe the quality of service for cyclists take these into account. Objective measuring methods are needed to enable reliable and effective assessment of surface conditions, and measurable performance criteria related to the needs of cyclists should be developed. The purpose of this study has been to test the reliability and validity of using accelerometers in smartphones to assess the riding comfort on cycleways. A smartphone application converting three-dimensional accelerometer measurements into a single indicator for cycleways has been used to assess road surfaces in two field studies, in Sweden and Norway, respectively. Both studies assessed test sections of varying quality. To relate the measurements to subjective riding comfort assessments by cyclists, recruited cyclists collected quantitative data using the app, whilst also rating their perceived riding comfort by completing a survey. Measurements were also related to standard road surface condition indicators, generated from a road surface tester equipped with 19 laser sensors: international roughness index (IRI), mega- and macrotexture. The results show that it is possible to describe the unevenness of a cycleway using the technology present in smartphones. A software application can be used to collect and analyse data from the acceleration sensors in the phone, which can then be used to describe the riding comfort of cyclists. It is mainly the unevenness in the 50–1000 mm size-range that create the greatest discomfort for cyclists, and intermittent vibrations are perceived as more uncomfortable than more evenly distributed vibrations. Due to this and the fact that IRI is developed for cars, we have determined that IRI is not a relevant measurement for describing the riding comfort of cyclists.

Reducing data requirement for accurate photovoltaic power prediction using hybrid machine learning-physical model on diverse dataset

This research aims to develop a hybrid model combining machine learning and a physical model and demonstrate its effectiveness across diverse datasets, data scarcity scenarios, and not standard conditions. The hybridization approach involves parallel integration of physical and machine learning models, where the outputs of both models are weighted and yield improved predictions by assigning weight based on error minimization. A deep neural network serves as the machine learning model, while the single-diode model is employed as the physical model. This study utilizes six different solar PV for constructing the diverse dataset. Key findings reveal that the hybrid model can accurately predict power generation from a diverse range of solar PV, during data scarcity scenarios, and in all conditions. The model performs well in predicting solar PV power output in 6 types of solar PV with an average RMSE of 0.177 kW. The hybrid model outperforms machine learning and physical models by 1.5 % and 42 % respectively when trained on the full dataset. Moreover, when 97 % of the data is discarded intentionally, the hybrid model outperforms both machine learning and physical models by 47.7 % and 10.5 % respectively. The model also shows that it can improve the accuracy of the prediction during standard (solar irradiance = 1000 W m−2) and not standard conditions. The successful hybridization of machine learning and physical models addresses previously identified limitations in individual models. In addition, the model indicates a substantial improvement in terms of accuracy compared to prior published studies.

Innovative Statistical Model Uncover Effective Herbal Medicines Among Personalized Treatment Plans in Persian Medicine: A Small-Scale Study in Type 2 Diabetes.

Objectives: In holistic medicine, developing personalized treatment plans is challenging due to the multitude of possible therapy combinations. This study introduces the use of a statistical approach to identify the most effective herbal medicines prescribed in Persian medicine (PM) in a small-scale sample of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: This prospective observational cohort study was conducted with 47 patients with T2DM referred to Behesht Clinic in Tehran, Iran. A physician prescribed individualized PM treatment for T2DM and related systemic issues. The fasting blood sugar (FBS) level of each patient was recorded at initial and two follow-up visits, with visit intervals and treatment modifications determined by patient health status. Patients who completed two follow-up visits were included in the final analysis (n = 27). Data were analyzed using R software. A general linear model was assumed for the mean response, along with an exponential covariance pattern model, to manage irregularly timed measurements. Results: Two fitted models showed that, after adjusting for confounders, the use of the "Diabetes Capsule" significantly reduced the average FBS by 17.14 mmol/L (p = 0.046). For each unit increase in the consumption of "Diabetes Capsule" or "Hab-e-Amber Momiai," the average FBS decreased by 15.22 mmol/L (p = 0.015) and 14.14 mmol/L (p = 0.047), respectively. Conclusion: It is possible to observe which medications are most effective, even when treatments are applied in a holistic and personalized fashion. Preliminary studies such as these may identify promising products for testing in clinical trials conducted under standardized conditions, to inform initial choices for future personalized treatments.

The galectin-3 inhibitor selvigaltin reduces liver inflammation and fibrosis in a high fat diet rabbit model of metabolic-associated steatohepatitis

IntroductionGalectin-3 is a pro-fibrotic β-galactoside binding lectin highly expressed in fibrotic liver and implicated in hepatic fibrosis. Selvigaltin (previously known as GB1211) is a novel orally active galectin-3 small molecule inhibitor that has high affinity for galectin-3 (human KD = 25 nM; rabbit KD = 12 nM) and high oral bioavailability in rabbits and man. In this study the efficacy of selvigaltin was investigated in a high fat diet (HFD) rabbit model of metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).MethodsMale New Zealand White rabbits were individually caged under standard conditions in a temperature and humidity-controlled room on a 12 h light/darkness cycle. After 1 week of regular diet (RD), rabbits were randomly assigned for 8 or 12 weeks to different groups: RD/vehicle, RD/selvigaltin, HFD (8 weeks), HFD/vehicle and HFD/selvigaltin (0.3, 1.0, 5.0 or 30 mg/kg selvigaltin with vehicle/selvigaltin p.o. dosed therapeutically q.d. 5 days per week from week 9 or 12). Liver inflammation, steatosis, ballooning, and fibrosis was measured via blood metabolic markers, histomorphological evaluation [Oil Red O, Giemsa, Masson’s trichome, picrosirius red (PSR) and second harmonic generation (SHG)], and mRNA and protein expression.ResultsSteatosis, inflammation, ballooning, and fibrosis were all increased from RD to HFD/vehicle groups. Selvigaltin demonstrated target engagement by significantly decreasing galectin-3 levels in the liver as measured via immunohistochemistry and mRNA analysis. Selvigaltin dose-dependently reduced biomarkers of liver function (AST, ALT, bilirubin), inflammation (cells foci), and fibrosis (PSR, SHG), as well as decreasing the mRNA and protein expression of several key inflammation and fibrosis biomarkers (e.g., IL6, TGFβ3, SNAI2, collagen). Doses of 1.0 or 5.0 mg/kg demonstrated consistent efficacy across most biological endpoints supporting the current clinical doses of selvigaltin being investigated in liver disease.DiscussionSelvigaltin significantly reduced hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in an HFD rabbit model of MASH following therapeutic dosing for 4 weeks in a dose-dependent manner. These data support the human selvigaltin dose of 100 mg b.i.d. that has been shown to reduce key liver biomarkers during a clinical study in liver cirrhosis.

EXPRESS: Auditory Distraction During Reading: Investigating the Effects of Background Sounds on Parafoveal Processing.

Previous research suggests that unexpected (deviant) sounds negatively affect reading performance by inhibiting saccadic planning, which models of reading agree takes place simultaneous to parafoveal processing. The present study examined the effect of deviant sounds on foveal and parafoveal processing. Participants read single sentences in quiet, standard (repeated sounds), or deviant sound conditions (a new sound within a repeated sound sequence). Sounds were presented with a variable delay coincident with the onset of fixations on target words during a period when saccadic programming and parafoveal processing occurred. We used the moving window paradigm (McConkie & Rayner, 1975) to manipulate the amount of information readers could extract from the parafovea (the entire sentence or a 13-character window of text). Global, sentence-level analyses showed typical disruption to reading by the window, and under quiet conditions similar effects were observed at the target and post-target word in the local analyses. Standard and deviant sounds also produced clear distraction effects of differing magnitudes at the target and post-target words, though at both regions, these effects were qualified by interactions. Effects at the target word suggested that with sounds, readers engaged in less effective parafoveal processing than under quiet. Similar patterns of effects due to standard and deviant sounds, each with a different time course, occurred at the post-target word. We conclude that distraction via auditory deviation causes disruption to parafoveal processing during reading, with such effects being modulated by the degree to which a sound's characteristics are more or less unique.

Organocatalyzed Approach to the Synthesis of γ‐Pyrones via Hydration/Cyclization of Skipped Diynones under Basic Conditions

In the presence of catalytic amounts of a secondary amine (e.g. morpholine), skipped diynones undergo hydration/cyclization in aqueous acetonitrile to form γ‐pyrones in moderate to excellent yields. The first step of the process involves a trans‐stereoselective conjugate‐addition of morpholine to the ynone. Gradually the intermediate E‐enaminone reacts with H2O yielding a hydration product via nucleophilic vinylic substitution. Then the amine adds to the second ynone moiety and the resulting enaminone is attacked intramolecularly by the enol hydroxyl to yield the γ‐pyrone, with elimination of morpholine (regeneration of the catalyst). Primary amines fail to promote the process, as the initially formed Z‐configurated enaminones are reluctant to react further under standard reaction conditions.

Elevated CO2 alleviates the exacerbation of evapotranspiration rates of grapevine (Vitis vinifera) under elevated temperature

Climate change is increasing crop water consumption while reducing precipitations in most places where grapevines are grown. This study aimed to quantify whole-plant water consumption of grapevines under climate change factors to determine what are the biggest contributors to changes in evapotranspiration under climate change conditions. Two experiments were carried out: i) Cabernet Sauvignon grafted onto 110 R grown in the temperature gradient greenhouses (TGG) exposed to elevated CO2 (700 µmol mol−1) and/or elevated temperature (+4 °C) and ii) Tempranillo vegetative cuttings grown in the controlled environment greenhouses (CEG) exposed to ambient CO2 and standard temperatures (i.e CA24°C) or elevated CO2 combined with elevated temperature (i.e CE28°C) under cyclic water deficit conditions. In the overall, the combination of elevated CO2 and elevated temperature did not increase pot evapotranspiration, and in the only case this happened, it was mediated by a greater leaf area per plant. There was an interaction in which CO2 compensated for the increase in evapotranspiration induced by elevated temperature. Plants under elevated CO2 and elevated temperature (CETE) had lower stomatal conductance which resulted in similar transpiration rates to plants under ambient CO2 and ambient temperature conditions (CATA) despites the 4 °C increase. Net assimilation was greater under elevated CO2, and thus, instantaneous water use efficiency (WUE). Pot evapotranspiration was correlated to parameters such as leaf area per plant, gas exchange transpiration rates, reference evapotranspiration and plant available water content in the substrate. Pot lysimeters are a good compromise to study whole-plant water consumption rates under controlled conditions. Climate change conditions will likely continue to threat the sustainability of crops due to water shortages, however, our results point out that the interaction between elevated temperature and CO2 should be considered. The sensitivity of plant responses to elevated CO2 could be exploited as a key trait for the adaptation of crops to climate change.

The Legacy Effect of Intensive versus Standard Blood Pressure Control on the Incidence of Dialysis or Kidney Transplantation.

The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) showed that intensive lowering of systolic blood pressure (BP) increased the risk of incident chronic kidney disease and episodes of acute kidney injury. Whether intensive treatment changes the risk of kidney failure is unknown. The goal of this study was to estimate the legacy effect of intensive versus standard systolic BP lowering on the longer-term incidence of kidney failure. Secondary analysis of a randomized, open-label clinical trial with observational follow-up. Between 2010 and 2013, patients 50 years and older with hypertension and higher cardiovascular risk excluding those with diabetes mellitus, history of stroke, proteinuria >1g / day or polycystic kidney disease were recruited from 102 clinic sites in the United States and Puerto Rico. Participants were randomized to a systolic BP goal of <120 mm Hg (intensive treatment) or <140 mm Hg (standard treatment group). We linked participants with the US Renal Data System to ascertain kidney failure (initiation of dialysis therapy or transplantation) and the US National Death Index to ascertain all-cause mortality through 2020. Based on analysis of 9279 (99.1%) of 9361 randomized participants, 101 cases of kidney failure occurred over a median follow-up of 8.6 years (interquartile range 8.0 to 9.1 years), with the majority occurring in 74 (73.3%) participants with an eGFR<45 ml/min/1.73 m2 at baseline. Intensive treatment did not significantly increase the risk of kidney failure either overall (cause-specific Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.20, 95% CI: 0.81 - 1.78) or in the subgroup of participants with baseline eGFR<45 ml/min/1.73 m2 (HR = 1.43, 95% CI: 0.89 - 2.30). Overall, and in patients with eGFR <45 ml/min/1.73 m2, there were higher rates of dialysis or transplantation among SPRINT participants randomized to intensive treatment, but the modest differences observed were not statistically significant.

Improvement of Motor Task Performance: Effects of Verbal Encouragement and Music—Key Results from a Randomized Crossover Study with Electromyographic Data

External motivational stimuli have been shown to improve athletic performance. However, the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying this improvement remain poorly understood. This randomized crossover study investigated the effects of music and verbal encouragement on measures of muscle excitation and myoelectric manifestations of fatigue in the biceps brachii and brachioradialis muscles during an endurance task. Fifteen untrained (mean age 29.57 ± 2.77 years) and 13 trained individuals (mean age 32.92 ± 2.90 years) were included. The endurance task, performed to exhaustion, consisted of keeping the dominant arm flexed to 90 degrees while holding a dumbbell loaded to 80% of 1RM with a supine grip in three randomized conditions: standard, with self-selected music, and with verbal encouragement. The untrained subjects showed an increase in task duration of 15.26% (p &lt; 0.003) with music and 15.85% (p &lt; 0.002) with verbal encouragement compared to the condition without external stimuli. There were no significant differences in the myoelectric manifestations of fatigue between the different conditions. Regarding the muscle excitation metrics, although the mean amplitude, peak value, and area under the curve remained unchanged across conditions, a significant reduction in the trend coefficient, indicating motor unit recruitment over time, was observed with both music (biceps brachii: −10.39%, p &lt; 0.001; brachioradialis: −9.40%, p &lt; 0.001) and verbal encouragement (biceps brachii: −7.61%, p &lt; 0.001; brachioradialis: −6.51%, p &lt; 0.001) compared to the standard condition. For the trained participants, no significant differences were observed between conditions in terms of task duration and outcome measures related to muscle excitation and myoelectric manifestations of fatigue, suggesting the possible presence of a ceiling effect on motivation. These results highlight the important role of external motivational stimuli, such as music and verbal encouragement, in improving task performance in untrained subjects, probably through more effective and efficient recruitment of motor units.