Search results for "Biophysics"

Editorial DCD13 "Bridging the Disciplines".

2021

Monovalent cation conductance in Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing hCAT-3

2005

hCAT-3 (human cationic amino acid transporter type three) was investigated with both the two-electrode voltage clamp method and tracer experiments. Oocytes expressing hCAT-3 displayed less negative membrane potentials and larger voltage-dependent currents than native or water-injected oocytes did. Ion substitution experiments in hCAT-3-expressing oocytes revealed a large conductance for Na + and K + . In the presence of l-Arg, voltage-dependent inward and outward currents were observed. At symmetrical (inside/outside) concentrations of l-Arg, the conductance of the transporter increased monoexponentially with the l-Arg concentrations; the calculated Vmax and KM values amounted to 8.3 AS and…

Localization of GFP-Tagged Proteins at the Electron Microscope

2016

The importance of definitions in the study of polyQ regions: A tale of thresholds, impurities and sequence context

2020

Graphical abstract

Physical activity, nutrition, and bone health

2018

This review aims to describe the roles that physical activity and nutrition have in bone metabolism and to examine their effects on bone in a situation of altered metabolism as a consequence of inadequate nutrition and/or excessive physical activity. Referring to the recent studies and the main guidelines in the literature on athlete nutrition, the paper also focuses on essential nutrients for bone health during performance. Finally, it discusses the negative effect of some nutrients on bone mineral density.

How do sports affect static baropodometry? An observational study among women living in southern Italy

2018

Purpose. the aim of the study was (a) to investigate the differences in plantar pressure distribution between athletes (A) and sedentary (S) women; (b) to examine the differences, if any, in plantar pressure between sports within the A group. Methods. the study involved 173 females; 98 were S (age: 24.23 ± 6.11 years; height: 161.11 ± 6.44 cm; weight: 56.70 ± 8.19 kg; bMI: 21.81 ± 2.52 kg/m 2 ; body surface area [bSA]: 1.59 ± 0.13; shoe size: 37.83 ± 1.53), 75 were A (age: 22.47 ± 4.89 years; height: 159.98 ± 5.95 cm; weight: 55.49 ± 7.61 kg; bMI: 21.62 ± 2.18 kg/m 2 ; bSA: 1.57 ± 0.12; shoe size: 38.05 ± 1.55). For plantar support analysis, the FreeMed posturography system was used, includ…

INFLUENCE OF NUTRITION AND GENETICS ON PERFORMANCE: A PILOT STUDY IN A GROUP OF GYMNASTS

2017

Purpose. Energy requirements in sports performance are affected by numerous factors: physical characteristics, age, genetic basis, sports discipline. The Food and Nutrition Board recommended nutrition based on age, height, and body weight gain in relation to physical activity. Some genetic factors, such as the PPAR-encoding gene, play a key role in metabolism. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of specific snacks on performance. Methods. Seventeen girls aged 10–14 years practising artistic gymnastics were enrolled. A carb or protein/carb snack was provided before the training, and a questionnaire was administered at the end. In addition, saliva samples were collected for gen…

Plantar pressure and foot temperature responses to acute barefoot and shod running

2015

AbstractPurpose. Increased contact pressure and skin friction may lead to higher skin temperature. Here, we hypothesized a relationship between plantar pressure and foot temperature. To elicit different conditions of stress to the foot, participants performed running trials of barefoot and shod running. Methods. Eighteen male recreational runners ran shod and barefoot at a self-selected speed for 15 min over different days. Before and immediately after running, plantar pressure during standing (via a pressure mapping system) and skin temperature (using thermography) were recorded. Results. No significant changes were found in plantar pressure after barefoot or shod conditions (p > 0.9). …

Maturation-Related Differences in Neuromuscular Fatigue After a Short-Term Maximal Run

2017

AbstractPurpose. This study investigated maturation-related differences in neuromuscular fatigue after a short-term maximal run. Methods. Eight male children, eight adolescents, and eight adults performed a maximal ca. 50-s run (300/350/400 m, respectively). Mechanisms of neuromuscular fatigue were assessed through isometric plantar flexor tests, electrical stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve, soleus electromyography, and blood tests. Results. All the groups showed a decrease in the running speed (children: -12.2 ± 6.5%; adolescents: -9.8 ± 5.1%; adults: -12.2 ± 3.1%), but only adults revealed a decline in the maximal isometric plantar flexor torque (-16.1 ± 13.0%). On the other hand,…

Influence of Nanoparticle Exposure on Nervous System Development in Zebrafish Studied by Means of Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy

2016

Zebrafish has a remarkable similarity in the molecular signaling processes, cellular structure, anatomy and physiology to other higher order vertebrates, making it an excellent vertebrate model organism (1). Recently, zebrafish has been used for neurotoxicity screening of numerous nanomaterials with a focus on the developmental effects due to the possibility of in vivo visualization of specific neurons and axon tracts by injecting dyes in live animals as well in fixed ones (2). Here we propose Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy (LSFM) (3) (4) to perform neurotoxicity studies, in order to study the nervous system architecture and to image 3D structures in the brain of live larvae during the…