EFFECTS OF WHOLE BODY VIBRATION ON STRENGTH AND JUMPING PERFORMANCE IN VOLLEYBALL AND BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS

The primary aim of this study was to examine the effects of 6-week strength training with whole body vibration (WBV) on leg strength and jumping performance in volleyball and beach volleyball players. Twenty-three sub-elite male volleyball (VB; n=12) and beach volleyball players (BVB; n=11) aged 21.2±3.0 years were divided into two groups and subjected to 6 weeks of strength training (three one-hour sessions per week): (I) 12 players (6 VB and 6 BVB players) underwent training with WBV (30-40 Hz, 1.7-2.5 mm, 3.0-5.7 g), and (II) 11 players (6 VB and 5 BVB players) underwent traditional strength training. Squat jump (SJ) and countermovement squat jump (CMJ) measurements by the Ergo Tester contact platform and maximum leg press test (1RM) were conducted. Three-factor (2 time x 2 WBV use x 2 discipline) analysis of variance for SJ, CMJ and 1RM revealed a significant time main effect (p<0.001), a WBV use effect (p<0.001) and a discipline effect (p<0.001). Significantly greater improvements in the SJ (p<0.001) and CMJ (p<0.001) and in 1RM (p<0.001) were found in the WBV training groups than in traditional training groups. Significant 3-way interaction effects (training, WBV use, discipline kind) were also found for SJ, CMJ and 1RM (p=0.001, p<0.001, p=0.001, respectively). It can be concluded that implementation of 6-week WBV training in routine practice in volleyball and beach volleyball players increases leg strength more and leads to greater improvement in jump performance than traditional strength training, but greater improvements can be expected in beach volleyball players than in volleyball players.     

THE TOLERANCE-HYPERBARIC TEST: A CHRONOBIOLOGIC APPROACH FOR IMPROVED DIAGNOSIS OF HYPERTENSION

Blood pressure (BP) displays predictable large-amplitude circadian variability. Thus, the identification and the proper definition of hypertension are highly ambiguous when based on single time-unspecified measurements. One way to deal with such variability in the diagnosis of hypertension is to replace the commonly used constant limits of BP by a time-specified reference interval based on the normal circadian BP rhythm assessed by ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). A proper reference limit can be constructed, for instance, as a tolerance interval computed for every specific time interval throughout the 24 h. Once such a threshold (given by the upper limit of the tolerance interval) is constructed, a hyperbaric index (HBI) can be computed by numerical integration of the total area of any given patient's BP profile above threshold. The HBI plus the duration of excess within the 24h day serves as nonparametric endpoints for assessing hypertension. Both retrospective and prospective evaluation of this tolerance-hyperbaric test validate its high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of hypertension. We describe the theory of the HBI as well as a newly created dedicated software program that automatically derives the tolerance intervals from a reference database of normotensive subjects and calculates the HBI and other potentially valuable parameters based on data obtained by ABPM. The establishment of time-qualified tolerance limits and the assessment of the extent and timing of BP elevation represents a valuable tool for the more accurate diagnosis of hypertension as well as means of gauging response to treatment.     

一种新的近交系实验动物遗传监测方法及小鼠性别相关RAPD标记的发现

我们用21个10 bp的随机短引物对来自昆明、成都、上海、北京四个地方的BALB/c小鼠以及C57BL小鼠、昆明种小白鼠进行了随机扩增多态DNA(RAPD)分析,发现13个引物的扩增产物在BALB/c小鼠和C 57 BL小鼠中有差异,8个引物的扩增产物在BALB/c小鼠和昆明种小白鼠之间不同.在四个地方的BALB/c小鼠中,成都、上海、北京的BALB/c小鼠其遗传背景均一,而来自昆明的BALB/c小鼠中,有2只的4个引物的扩增产物不同于其它的BALB/c小鼠,表明这两只BALB/c小鼠可能曾发生过某种程度的遗传改变或污染。实验结果显示RAPD方法是一种有效的近交系实验动物遗传监测手段。实验中一个有趣的结果是,在OPG 2、OPE 4、OPE 9的扩增产物中,发现了严格的性别依赖的PAPD标记。OPE 9扩增产物中,凡雄性个体都有一条0.88 kb的标记.OPG 2、OPE 4则在所有的雄性个体中多扩增出一条约1.2 kb的带。通过交叉PCR扩增和斑点杂交证明OPG 2、OPE 4 得到的雄性特异性RAPD标记虽分子大小一致,但不具同源性。这些性别相关RAPD标记的染色体定位和性质分析正在进一步进行中.     

A COMPARISON OF 30° AND 37° AS INCUBATION TEMPERATURES IN THE PRESUMPTIVE COLIAEROGENES TEST FOR RAW AND PASTEURIZED MILK

SUMMARY: Incubation at 30° and 37° for the presumptive coli-aerogenes test for raw and pasterurized milk has been investigated. There were more positives at the lower temperature and it is suggested that in this test, incubation at 30° might provide a much better guide to the hygienic quality of both raw and pasterurized milk. The ability of the coli-aerogenes bacteria studied to ferment lactose in MacConkey's broth at 30° but not at 37° was found to be a stable factor which was unchanged by prolonged storage on agar slopes at room temperature or on continued incubation in MacConkey's broth at temperatures above the optimum for lactose fermentation.     

THE EVOLUTION OF COPULATION IN WATER MITES: A COMPARATIVE TEST FOR NONREVERSING CHARACTERS

Although copulation is a widespread behavior with multiple origins, hypotheses about selective forces behind its evolution have not been tested by the comparative method. Because copulation has arisen many times in the water mites (Acari: Parasitengona), they are good subjects for a comparative study of copulation. I determined that copulation evolved 91 times in the 343 extant genera. There was no evidence of reversals to noncopulation; therefore, Ridley's (1983) contingency-table comparative test was not appropriate. I designed a comparative test for instances in which there is no loss of the derived trait of interest. This test determines whether independent evolutions of a trait cooccur with a predictor more often than expected by chance. Two hypotheses were tested: 1) that copulation would be selected for in running-water habitats because of disruption of pheromonal communication; 2) that copulation would be selected for in swimming mites because females are less likely to contact spermatophores deposited on a substrate. Independent evolutions of copulation among running-water mites were not more frequent than expected by chance (P > 0.4), but there were more evolutions of copulation than expected among swimming mites (P < 0.005). Endoparasitism, secondary loss of swimming hairs, production of spermatophore fields, courtship, and benthivorous habits may explain why some mites copulate but do not swim while others swim but do not copulate.     

哀牢山铗捕小兽群落元素现存量与原子比率

本文分析,计算了中华姬鼠和中华鼩(?)的氮、磷、钾、钠、钙、镁、钡、铝、铁、铜和锌的含量及原子比率。发现除氮外,其它元素含量均有种间差异。此外,估算了10个元素的现存量。     

NONLINEAR PROCESSES OF INTRACELLULAR CALCIUM SIGNALING AS A TARGET FOR THE INFLUENCE OF EXTREMELY LOW-FREQUENCY FIELDS

Theoretical analysis of peculiarities of reception of weak extremely low-frequency periodic signals by calcium-dependent intracellular regulatory systems was performed on the reduced “minimal” model for calcium oscillations suggested by Goldbeter et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87, 1461–1465, 1990). The model considered the following calcium-dependent processes: the rise in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) due to calcium ionophore A23187 action on a cell, activation of the Ca²⁺ entry through calcium channels in the plasma membrane by the initial rise in [Ca²⁺]_i, and the Ca²⁺ release from intracellular stores by the calcium-induced calcium release mechanism. Calcium channels of plasma membrane were chosen as a target for the modulating signal and an additive noise influence in the model. An increase in [Ca²⁺]_i under the influence of the modulating signal was demonstrated to depend not only on the amplitude and frequency of this signal, but also on the phase of the signal with respect to a momentary chemical stimulation of the cell. Such an effect was found only at high strengths of chemical stimulation and with a particular sequence of delivery of the chemical and electromagnetic stimuli. An increase in noise intensity led to magnification of the mean level of [Ca²⁺]_i in a narrow frequency range by the mechanism of stochastic resonance. Under the influence of a modulating periodic signal, the gradual increase in strength of chemical stimulation induced a system transition from regular to chaotic behavior, and then to induced periodic oscillations. A boundary of the transition from chaotic to periodic oscillations corresponded to a “threshold” of sensitivity of calcium-dependent intracellular signaling systems on [Ca²⁺]_i to the influence of the modulating signal. Results of the theoretical analysis led us to conclude that the narrow-band response of a system to an external electromagnetic signal is determined purely by nonlinear properties of the system.     

白鱀豚动作学习能力的初步研究

本文详细记述了一头雄性白豚对一系列简单动作,包括听声音、碰手、接受抚摸、侧身和仰躺等的学习和掌握过程,分析了白豚学习这些动作的一般规律。讨论了学习过程中白豚的某些心理现象。初步评价了白豚的记忆能力。     

HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN MICRO-ENCAPSULATION AS A DOUBLE TOOL FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF NEW GENERATION VACCINES

ABSTRACT

The modern vaccinology encompasses the recombinant DNA technology, protein and carbohydrate chemistry to obtain safe molecularly defined vaccines. Nevertheless most of the vaccines are poorly immunogenic because a large number of antigens are membrane proteins and consequently they are not present in their active conformation in the vaccine. Others are not as potent because they contain only B epitopes and therefore, cannot stimulate cellular memory. We have been studying the characteristics of the recombinant heat shock protein 18kDa-hsp from Mycobacterium leprae as an alternative carrier protein with a T epitope source to enhance the activity of these second generation vaccines. Here we proved that the 18kDa-hsp acted as carrier, without masking the activity of the carried antigen, with similar immune stimulatory effect when compared with ODN1668. Supramolecular aggregates of 18kDa-hsp and Mice serum albumin (MSA) were obtained using glutaraldehyde as cross linker. The Neisseria meningitides serogroup C polysaccharide (PSC, a B epitope) and the carrier protein 18kDa-hsp were co-encapsulated within Soybean phosphatidylcholine liposomes (SPC: Cho : α-Toc, 22 : 5 : 0.18 molar ratio, respectively). These liposomes were prepared in MPB buffer (20 mM phosphate, 295 mM mannitol pH 7.2) in the presence or absence of the ODN1668, TCCATGACGTTCCTGATGCT. When mice were injected with 18kDa-hsp-MSA no antibody against the MSA was observed. This means that the 18kDa-hsp acted as carrier, without masking the carried protein immune activity. Stable liposomes of 150 nm were obtained using mannitol as a cryoprotector. Genetically selected mice when injected with liposomes containing PSC and 18kDa-hsp displayed an antibody titer of 12. In contrast, in those mice injected with free PSC there was no response. The 18kDa-hsp adjuvant effect on the PSC liposomal formulation was comparable to that observed when ODN1668 was co-encapsulated with PSC. Confirming our expectations we observed that the formulation containing 18kDa-hsp conferred a memory response to the carried antigen—the Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C polysaccharide.     

INCOMPLETENESS OF THE COCCOSPHERE AS A POSSIBLE STIMULUS FOR COCCOLITH FORMATION IN PLEUROCHRYSIS CARTERAE (PRYMNESIOPHYCEAE)1

Pleurochrysis carterae is a marine biflagellate that produces calcified structures called coccoliths. The coccoliths are formed inside the cells and released from the latter after formation. The light dependence of calcium incorporation in this species was studied using ⁴⁵Ca as a tracer. Cells exposed to a repeating cycle of 16 h of light and 8 h of darkness incorporated calcium in extracellular coccoliths at a more or less constant rate throughout a cycle. The cells divided during the dark periods with a concomitant decrease in size. Their size increased during the light periods. Coccolith formation in cells incubated in continuous darkness was greatly reduced and finally ceased. These cells did not divide and did not increase in size. Removal of extracellular coccoliths prior to the calcium incorporation experiments stimulated coccolith formation both in dark-incubated cells and in cells exposed to a repeating light-dark cycle. Cells in the stationary phase of growth ceased producing coccoliths. Calcification could be induced in these cells by removal of the extracellular coccoliths. Based on these findings we suggest that cells of Pleurochrysis carterae tend to produce a complete cover of coccoliths and that the available cell surface is a factor controlling coccolith formation.     

INCOMPLETENESS OF THE COCCOSPHERE AS A POSSIBLE STIMULUS FOR COCCOLITH FORMATION IN PLEUROCHRYSIS CARTERAE(PRYMNESIOPHYCEAE)1

Pleurochrysis carterae is a marine biflagellate that produces calcified structures called coccoliths. The coccoliths are formed inside the cells and released from the latter after formation. The light dependence of calcium incorporation in this species was studied using⁴⁵Ca as a tracer. Cells exposed to a repeating cycle of 16 h of light and 8 h of darkness incorporated calcium in extracellular coccoliths at a more or less constant rate throughout a cycle. The cells divided during the dark periods with a concomitant decrease in size. Their size increased during the light periods Coccolith formation in cells incubated in continuous darkness was greatly reduced and finally ceased. These cells did not divide and did not increase in size. Removal of extracellular coccoliths prior to the calcium incorporation experiments stimulated coccolith formation both in dark-incubated cells and in cells exposed to a repeating light-dark cycle. Cells in the stationary phase of growth ceased producing coccoliths. Calcification could be induced in these cells by removal of the extracellular coccoliths. Based on these findings we suggest that cells of Pleurochrysis carterae tend to produce a complete cover of coccoliths and that the available cell surface is a factor controlling coccolith formation.     

AN EMPIRICAL TEST OF PREDICTIONS OF TWO COMPETING MODELS FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND FATE OF HYBRID ZONES: BOTH MODELS ARE SUPPORTED IN A HARD-CLAM HYBRID ZONE

Two models developed to discern the mode of selection in hybrid zones differ in some predictions. The tension-zone model predicts that selection acts against hybrids and independently of the environment (endogenous selection) and that selection is invariant throughout the hybrid zone. The ecological selection-gradient, or ecotone, model maintains that fitness of different genotypes varies in response to environmental variation (exogenous selection) and thus, that in a region of the zone, fitness of hybrids is at least equal to that of the parental species. Therefore, to assess the predominant mode of selection operating in a hybrid zone, it is fundamental to evaluate whether selection is acting specifically against hybrid individuals, that is, whether hybridity alone is the basis for deficiencies of hybrids, and to evaluate whether the relative fitness of hybrids versus that of pure species varies across the zone. In a hardclam (genus Mercenaria) hybrid zone located in a polyhaline lagoon in east-central Florida, we used age-specific and location-specific analyses to determine that a hybrid deficit occurrs, that the deficit seems to be due to selection against hybrids, and that selection varies across the zone. Various measures of deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, linkage disequilibrium analyses, and shifts in allele frequencies at semidiagnostic loci support the idea that selection is strongest in the northern region of the lagoon, the zone of sympatry and hybridization. Southward, into the range of M. mercenaria (the numerically predominant species), the percentage of hybrids remains relatively high and selection against hybrids decreases. For some genetic linkage groups, selection for M. mercenaria alleles seems to be occurring, but selection seems to be acting principally against alleles characteristic of M. mercenaria and, to a lesser degree, for alleles characteristic of M. campechiensis (the rarer species). These findings and others from previous analyses we have done on this hybrid zone demonstrate that selection in the zone is complex, and that characteristics of both the tension-zone and ecotone models are present. Supporting the tension-zone model, selection against hybrids per se clearly occurs, but specific genotypes seem to be at a selective disadvantage, whereas others have a selective advantage, and selection operates differentially on the two parental species within the zone. Supporting the ecotone model, the strength of overall selection varies throughout the zone, and environmentally mediated selection in which each species and hybrids have an advantage in specific habitats occurs, but some selection against hybrids is invariant throughout the zone. Thus, the structure and genetic architecture of this hybrid zone appear to be products of a complicated interaction between both types of selective forces cited in the two competing models.