Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of 14 weeks of vitamin D3 supplementation on antimicrobial peptides and proteins in athletes

Abstract Heavy training is associated with increased respiratory infection risk and antimicrobial proteins are important in defence against oral and respiratory tract infections. We examined the effect of 14 weeks of vitamin D3 supplementation (5000 IU/day) on the resting plasma cathelicidin concentration and the salivary secretion rates of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA), cathelicidin, lactoferrin and lysozyme in athletes during a winter training period. Blood and saliva were obtained at the start of the study from 39 healthy men who were randomly allocated to vitamin D3 supplement or placebo. Blood samples were also collected at the end of the study; saliva samples were collected after 7 and 14 weeks. Plasma total 25(OH)D concentration increased by 130% in the vitamin D3 group and decreased by 43% in the placebo group (both P = 0.001). The percentage change of plasma cathelicidin concentration in the vitamin D3 group was higher than in the placebo group (P = 0.025). Only in the vitamin D3 group, the saliva SIgA and cathelicidin secretion rates increased over time (both P = 0.03). A daily 5000 IU vitamin D3 supplement has a beneficial effect in up-regulating the expression of SIgA and cathelicidin in athletes during a winter training period, which could improve resistance to respiratory infections.
Visual paired‐pulse stimulation reveals enhanced visual cortex excitability in migraineurs

Migraine is a common ictal disorder with an interindividual heterogeneous characteristic, whose underlying mechanisms remain elusive. On the one hand migraine is associated with abnormal cortical hyperexcitability. On the other hand, studies reported lower amplitudes of visual‐evoked potentials (VEPs) and concluded that low preactivation levels imply decreased excitability. Here we measured visual cortex excitability and paired‐pulse suppression in subjects suffering from migraine without aura and in a group of aged‐ and gender‐matched healthy subjects to address the relation between activation levels and excitability. To that aim, we analysed amplitudes of VEPs and paired‐pulse suppression evoked by a paired‐pulse stimulation paradigm using stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs) between 80 and 133 ms. We found that in migraineurs in the interictal state the amplitudes of the first VEP were reduced as compared with healthy subjects by approximately 20%. In the case of paired‐pulse suppression comparable to healthy controls, the second response amplitude should be reduced as well, which was not the case. Instead, the ratio between the first and second VEP was higher than in healthy controls and did not depend on SOA in the range tested, which demonstrates reduced paired‐pulse suppression and therefore implicates increased cortical excitability. Our data show that in migraineurs VEPs were reduced presumably due to reduced activation levels. However, paired‐pulse suppression using short SOAs in the range of 100 ms or less was even higher than in normal subjects. Thus, our data show that signatures of both hyper‐ and hypoexcitability can be found depending on stimulation condition.
Tier-specific evolution of match performance characteristics in the English Premier League: it’s getting tougher at the top

Abstract This study investigated the evolution of physical and technical performances in the English Premier League (EPL), with special reference to league ranking. Match performance observations (n = 14,700) were collected using a multiple-camera computerised tracking system across seven consecutive EPL seasons (2006–07 to 2012–13). Final league rankings were classified into Tiers: (A) 1st–4th ranking (n = 2519), (B) 5th–8th ranking (n = 2965), (C) 9th–14th ranking (n = 4448) and (D) 15th–20th ranking (n = 4768). Teams in Tier B demonstrated moderate increases in high-intensity running distance while in ball possession from the 2006–07 to 2012–13 season (P < 0.001; effect size [ES]: 0.68), with Tiers A, C and D producing less pronounced increases across the same period (P < 0.005; ES: 0.26, 0.41 and 0.33, respectively). Large increases in sprint distance were observed from the 2006–07 to 2012–13 season for Tier B (P < 0.001; ES: 1.21), while only moderate increases were evident for Tiers A, C and D (P < 0.001; ES: 0.75, 0.97 and 0.84, respectively). Tier B demonstrated large increases in the number of passes performed and received in 2012–13 compared to 2006–07 (P < 0.001; ES: 1.32–1.53) with small-to-moderate increases in Tier A (P < 0.001; ES: 0.30–0.38), Tier C (P < 0.001; ES: 0.46–0.54) and Tier D (P < 0.001; ES: 0.69–0.87). The demarcation line between 4th (bottom of Tier A) and 5th ranking (top of Tier B) in the 2006–07 season was 8 points, but this decreased to just a single point in the 2012–13 season. The data demonstrate that physical and technical performances have evolved more in Tier B than any other Tier in the EPL and could indicate a narrowing of the performance gap between the top two Tiers.
Fasting biases brain reward systems towards high‐calorie foods

Nutritional state (e.g. fasted vs. fed) and different food stimuli (e.g. high‐calorie vs. low‐calorie, or appetizing vs. bland foods) are both recognized to change activity in brain reward systems. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we have studied the interaction between nutritional state and different food stimuli on brain food reward systems. We examined how blood oxygen level‐dependent activity within a priori regions of interest varied while viewing pictures of high‐calorie and low‐calorie foods. Pictures of non‐food household objects were included as control stimuli. During scanning, subjects rated the appeal of each picture. Twenty non‐obese healthy adults [body mass index 22.1 ± 0.5 kg/m2 (mean ± SEM), age range 19–35 years, 10 male] were scanned on two separate mornings between 11:00 and 12:00 h, once after eating a filling breakfast (‘fed’: 1.6 ± 0.1 h since breakfast), and once after an overnight fast but skipping breakfast (‘fasted’: 15.9 ± 0.3 h since supper) in a randomized cross‐over design. Fasting selectively increased activation to pictures of high‐calorie over low‐calorie foods in the ventral striatum, amygdala, anterior insula, and medial and lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Furthermore, fasting enhanced the subjective appeal of high‐calorie more than low‐calorie foods, and the change in appeal bias towards high‐calorie foods was positively correlated with medial and lateral OFC activation. These results demonstrate an interaction between homeostatic and hedonic aspects of feeding behaviour, with fasting biasing brain reward systems towards high‐calorie foods.
Large‐scale reorganization of corticofugal fibers after neonatal hemidecortication for functional restoration of forelimb movements

As an experimental model to study the mechanism of large‐scale network plasticity of the juvenile brain, functional compensation after neonatal brain damage was studied in rats that received unilateral decortication at postnatal day 5. These animals exhibited a marked ability in reaching and grasping movements in the contralesional side of the forelimb when tested at 10–14 weeks of age. Additional lesion of the sensorimotor cortex in the remaining contralesional hemisphere at this stage resulted in severe impairment of both forelimbs. It was suggested that the sensorimotor cortex on the contralesional side was controlling the movements of both forelimbs. Following the injection of an anterograde tracer into the remaining sensorimotor cortex, the corticofugal axons from the remaining sensorimotor cortex were found to issue aberrant projections to the contralateral red nucleus, contralateral superior colliculus, contralateral pontine nuclei, ipsilateral dorsal column nucleus and ipsilateral gray matter of the cervical spinal cord, all of which appeared to be necessary for the control of contralesional forelimb movements. These results suggest that the forelimb movements on the contralesional side were compensated by large‐scale reorganization of the corticofugal axons from the remaining sensorimotor cortex.
Impaired sleep and recovery after night matches in elite football players

ABSTRACT Despite the perceived importance of sleep for elite footballers, descriptions of the duration and quality of sleep, especially following match play, are limited. Moreover, recovery responses following sleep loss remain unclear. Accordingly, the present study examined the subjective sleep and recovery responses of elite footballers across training days (TD) and both day and night matches (DM and NM). Sixteen top division European players from three clubs completed a subjective online questionnaire twice a day for 21 days during the season. Subjective recall of sleep variables (duration, onset latency, time of wake/sleep, wake episode duration), a range of perceptual variables related to recovery, mood, performance and internal training loads and non-exercise stressors were collected. Players reported significantly reduced sleep durations for NM compared to DM (−157 min) and TD (−181 min). In addition, sleep restfulness (SR; arbitrary scale 1 = very restful, 5 = not at all restful) and perceived recovery (PR; acute recovery and stress scale 0 = not recovered at all, 6 = fully recovered) were significantly poorer following NM than both TD (SR: +2.0, PR: −2.6), and DM (SR: +1.5; PR: −1.5). These results suggest that reduced sleep quantity and quality and reduced PR are mainly evident following NM in elite players.
Neural cell adhesion molecule is required for stability of reinnervated neuromuscular junctions

Studies examining the etiology of motoneuron diseases usually focus on motoneuron death as the defining pathophysiology of the disease. However, impaired neuromuscular transmission and synapse withdrawal often precede cell death, raising the possibility that abnormalities in synaptic function contribute to disease onset. Although little is known about the mechanisms maintaining the synaptic integrity of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), Drosophila studies suggest that Fasciclin II plays an important role. Inspired by these studies we used a reinnervation model of synaptogenesis to analyze neuromuscular function in mice lacking neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), the Fasciclin II vertebrate homolog. Our results showed that the recovery of contractile force was the same in wild‐type and NCAM−/− mice at 1 month after nerve injury, indicating that endplates were appropriately reformed. This normality was only transient because the contractile force and myofiber number decreased at 3 months after injury in NCAM−/− mice. Both declined further 3 months later. Myofibers degenerated, not because motoneurons died but because synapses were withdrawn. Although neurotransmission was initially normal at reinnervated NCAM−/− NMJs, it was significantly compromised 3 months later. Interestingly, the selective ablation of NCAM from motoneurons, or muscle fibers, did not mimic the deficits observed in reinnervated NCAM−/− mice. Taken together, these results indicate that NCAM is required to maintain normal synaptic function at reinnervated NMJs, although its loss pre‐synaptically or post‐synaptically is not sufficient to induce synaptic destabilization. Consideration is given to the role of NCAM in terminal Schwann cells for maintaining synaptic integrity and how NCAM dysfunction may contribute to motoneuron disorders.
Circadian entrainment to light–dark cycles involves extracellular nitric oxide communication within the suprachiasmatic nuclei

The ability to synchronize to light–dark (LD) cycles is an essential property of the circadian clock, located in mammals within the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). Single light pulses activate nitric oxide (NO) intracellular signaling, leading to circadian phase‐shifts required for synchronization. In addition, extracellular NO has a role in the SCN paracrine communication of photic phase advances. In this work, the extracellular nitrergic transmission was assessed in steady‐state synchronization to LD cycles of locomotor rhythms in the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus). Extracellular NO levels were pharmacologically decreased in vivo with the specific scavenger, 2‐phenyl‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethylimidazoline‐1‐oxyl 3‐oxide (PTIO). Hamsters were subjected to LD cycles different from normal 24 h (LD 14 : 10) cycles (i.e. T‐cycles), with a single 30‐min light pulse presented either every 23 h (T23 cycles), or every 25 h (T25 cycles), thus allowing synchronization by advances or delays, respectively. Acute PTIO intracerebroventricular microinjections, delivered 30 min previous to the light pulse, inhibited synchronization by phase advances to T23 cycles, but did not alter phase delays under T25 cycles. In addition, NO scavenging inhibited light‐induced expression of PERIOD1 protein at circadian time 18 (i.e. the time for light‐induced phase advances). These findings demonstrate the role of extracellular NO communication within the SCN in the steady‐state synchronization to LD cycles.
Beyond the technical: The role of emotion regulation in lacrosse officiating

ABSTRACT Emotions can influence the performance of referees leading to a need to examine emotions experienced, and regulation strategies used by referees. The present study assessed emotions and emotion regulation strategies of 19 referees officiating at an Under-19 Lacrosse World Championship. Using survey methods and focus group interviews, officials responded to five questions: (a) What emotions were experienced? (b) What events elicited emotions? (c) How did lacrosse officials manage their own emotional states prior to, throughout, and following a competitive game? (d) How did officials manage others’ emotional states? (e) What were the perceived consequences of these strategies? Results indicate that emotions fluctuated throughout the tournament as referees encountered intrapersonal and interpersonal emotion-eliciting events. These fluctuations are suggested to come from a progressively diminished capacity for emotion regulation. Participants used emotion regulation strategies that could be classified into Gross’ (1999) families of emotion regulation strategies, often relying on suppression, emotion contagion, and preventative refereeing. Collectively, the results offer new insights into referee emotion regulation at international events.
Widespread hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical axis‐relevant and mood‐relevant effects of chronic fluoxetine treatment on glucocorticoid receptor gene expression in mice

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) have been used to treat melancholic depression, which has been associated with elevated hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical (HPA) axis activity, whereas patients suffering from atypical depression, which is often associated with decreased HPA axis activity, show preferential responsiveness to monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). We previously reported drug‐specific effects of the TCA imipramine and the MAOI phenelzine on HPA axis‐relevant endpoints in mice that may explain differential antidepressant responses in melancholic vs. atypical depression. However, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are reported to be effective in both melancholic and atypical depression. We therefore hypothesized that SSRIs would share HPA axis‐related effects with either TCAs or MAOIs. To test this hypothesis, we measured HPA axis‐relevant gene expression in male C57BL/6 mice treated for 5 weeks with 10 mg/kg/day fluoxetine. To control for potential fluoxetine‐induced changes in glucocorticoid secretion, mice were adrenalectomized and given fixed levels of glucocorticoids. Fluoxetine decreased glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene expression in the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, locus coeruleus and dorsal raphé nucleus, and increased locus coeruleus tyrosine hydroxylase and dorsal raphé nucleus tryptophan hydroxylase‐2 (TPH2) gene expression. These results resembled those that we previously reported for MAOI treatment, but included decreases in GR and increases in TPH2 gene expression in the dorsal raphé nucleus that were induced by TCAs but not MAOIs. Correlating with inhibitory effects on central amygdala GR gene expression, fluoxetine also decreased amygdala corticotropin‐releasing hormone gene expression, an effect not previously observed with MAOIs or TCAs. These actions may be relevant to the efficacy of SSRIs in treating a range of depression and anxiety disorders.
Concerns about One's Own Future or Securing Child's Future: Paradox of Childbearing Decision Making

Background and Purpose: Researchers’ incomplete perception of the concerns about childbearing decision making process is revealed in discussions about policies and programs that are designed to influence fertility. Perceiving the concerns of women is essential to explain process of decision making for childbearing. This study aimed to understand women’s main concerns about childbearing decision making. Methods: This qualitative study was performed by conventional content analysis approach. The participants included 22 married women in Tehran who were pregnant for the first time or were using contraceptive methods. Purposeful sampling began and continued up to data saturation. To collect data, the unstructured in-depth interviews were used. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis by Lundman and Graneheim method. Findings: Four categories were obtained from data including “fear”, “uncertainty”, “hope” and “financial security”. The main category or theme was “concerns about one’s own future or securing child’s future” that was extracted as the main concern of women about childbearing decision making process. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that concerns about one’s own future or securing child’s future are the main concerns of women about childbearing decision making. Deep understanding of women’s concerns about childbearing will help midwives and other service providers to provide services, strategies and more sensitive and appropriate interventions.
Calibration of context-specific survey items to assess youth physical activity behaviour

ABSTRACT This study tests calibration models to re-scale context-specific physical activity (PA) items to accelerometer-derived PA. A total of 195 4th–12th grades children wore an Actigraph monitor and completed the Physical Activity Questionnaire (PAQ) one week later. The relative time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA%) obtained from the Actigraph at recess, PE, lunch, after-school, evening and weekend was matched with a respective item score obtained from the PAQ’s. Item scores from 145 participants were calibrated against objective MVPA% using multiple linear regression with age, and sex as additional predictors. Predicted minutes of MVPA for school, out-of-school and total week were tested in the remaining sample (n = 50) using equivalence testing. The results showed that PAQ β-weights ranged from 0.06 (lunch) to 4.94 (PE) MVPA% (P < 0.05) and models root mean square error ranged from 4.2% (evening) to 20.2% (recess). When applied to an independent sample, differences between PAQ and accelerometer MVPA at school and out-of-school ranged from −15.6 to +3.8 min and the PAQ was within 10–15% of accelerometer measured activity. This study demonstrated that context-specific items can be calibrated to predict minutes of MVPA in groups of youth during in- and out-of-school periods.
Four weeks of high cadence training alter brain cortical activity in cyclists

ABSTRACT Exercise at different cadences might serve as potential stimulus for functional adaptations of the brain, because cortical activation is sensitive to frequency of movement. Therefore, we investigated the effects of high (HCT) and low cadence training (LCT) on brain cortical activity during exercise as well as endurance performance. Cyclists were randomly assigned to low and high cadence training. Over the 4-week training period, participants performed 4 h of basic endurance training as well as four additional cadence-specific exercise sessions, 60 min weekly. At baseline and after 4 weeks, participants completed an incremental exercise test with spirometry and exercise at constant load with registration of electroencephalogram (EEG). Compared with LCT, a greater increase of frontal alpha/beta ratio was confirmed in HCT. This was based on a lower level of beta activity during exercise. Both groups showed similar improvements in maximal oxygen consumption and power at the individual anaerobic threshold. Whereas HCT and LCT elicit similar benefits on aerobic performance, cycling at high pedalling frequencies enables participants to perform an exercise bout with less cortical activation.
Initial foot contact and related kinematics affect impact loading rate in running

ABSTRACT This study assessed kinematic differences between different foot strike patterns and their relationship with peak vertical instantaneous loading rate (VILR) of the ground reaction force (GRF). Fifty-two runners ran at 3.2 m · s−1 while we recorded GRF and lower limb kinematics and determined foot strike pattern: Typical or Atypical rearfoot strike (RFS), midfoot strike (MFS) of forefoot strike (FFS). Typical RFS had longer contact times and a lower leg stiffness than Atypical RFS and MFS. Typical RFS showed a dorsiflexed ankle (7.2 ± 3.5°) and positive foot angle (20.4 ± 4.8°) at initial contact while MFS showed a plantar flexed ankle (−10.4 ± 6.3°) and more horizontal foot (1.6 ± 3.1°). Atypical RFS showed a plantar flexed ankle (−3.1 ± 4.4°) and a small foot angle (7.0 ± 5.1°) at initial contact and had the highest VILR. For the RFS (Typical and Atypical RFS), foot angle at initial contact showed the highest correlation with VILR (r = −0.68). The observed higher VILR in Atypical RFS could be related to both ankle and foot kinematics and global running style that indicate a limited use of known kinematic impact absorbing “strategies” such as initial ankle dorsiflexion in MFS or initial ankle plantar flexion in Typical RFS.
Heterogeneity of the supramammillary–hippocampal pathways: evidence for a unique GABAergic neurotransmitter phenotype and regional differences

The supramammillary nucleus (SuM) provides substantial projections to the hippocampal formation. This hypothalamic structure is involved in the regulation of hippocampal theta rhythm and therefore the control of hippocampal‐dependent cognitive functions as well as emotional behavior. A major goal of this study was to characterize the neurotransmitter identity of the SuM–hippocampal pathways. Our findings demonstrate two distinct neurochemical pathways in rat. The first pathway originates from neurons in the lateral region of the SuM and innervates the supragranular layer of the dorsal dentate gyrus and, to a much lesser extent, the ventral dentate gyrus. This pathway displays a unique dual phenotype for GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission. Axon terminals contain markers of GABAergic neurotransmission, including the synthesizing enzyme of GABA, glutamate decarboxylase 65, and the vesicular GABA transporter and also a marker of glutamatergic neurotransmission, the vesicular glutamate transporter 2. The second pathway originates from neurons in the most posterior and medial part of the SuM and innervates exclusively the inner molecular layer of the ventral dentate gyrus and the CA2/CA3a pyramidal cell layer of the hippocampus. The axon terminals from the medial part of the SuM contain the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 only. These data demonstrate for the first time the heterogeneity of the SuM–hippocampal pathways, not only from an anatomical but also a neurochemical point of view. These pathways, implicated in different neuronal networks, could modulate different hippocampal activities. They are likely to be involved differently in the regulation of hippocampal theta rhythm and associated cognitive functions as well as emotional behavior.