Moderate Intensity Exercise Is Associated with Decreased Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme, Increased β2-Adrenergic Receptor Gene Expression and Lower Blood Pressure in Middle-Aged Men

Introduction: Exercise activity increases blood flow rate but gene expression of factors that may be involved in blood pressure changes have not yet been completely studied. The purpose of the present study was to characterize the role of aerobic exercise with the intensity of 50-65 %maximal exercise heart rate in gene expression of angiotensin converting Enzyme (ACE) and β2 -adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) in adult untrained men. Methods: Twenty untrained middle aged men (49.91±3.17 years) volunteered to participate in this study. The participants were randomly assigned to exercise (Ex, n=10) and control (Con, n=10) groups. The Ex group performed aerobic exercises for 40-50 min/day, 4 days/week for 8 weeks. Expression of ACE mRNA and ADRB2 mRNA were determined by real time PCR at the start of the exercise program, 24 hours after the last training session at the end of week 4 and at the end of week 8. Blood samples were collected following a 12-hour overnight fast and were taken between 08.00-09.00h. Descriptive statistics were determined for all variables. The normal distribution of data was determined by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Data were analyzed using appropriate Mixed Model Method (One-way ANOVA). Post hoc comparisons between selected means were performed with Bonferroni’s contrast test when initial ANOVA indicated statistical differences between experimental groups. Mann-Whitney analyses were used to compare differences between groups (control and exercise groups) at baseline. Results: The expression of ACE mRNA in week 4 and in the Ex group was significantly lower than in the Con group (P Conclusions: These results suggest that moderate intensity exercise promotes the leukocyte expression of gene markers that may affect blood pressure and decreases blood pressure by improving cardiovascular fitness levels in middle-aged men

An investigation on the sturgeon stocks in southern Caspian Sea

We launched a summer and winter cruise using two fishing vessels to assess the stocks of the sturgeon fish in the southern coasts of the Caspian Sea in the year 2004-2005. Eighty five random stations were selected and sampled using a 9 meter trawl in waters less than 10 meters and a 24.7 meter trawl for the depths above 10 meters. We caught 170 sturgeons in the summer cruise which comprised 142 Acipenser persicus, 19 Acipenser stellatus, 4 Huso huso, 3 Acipenser nudiventris and 2 Acipenser guldenstadtti. In the winter cruise, 118 sturgeons were caught of which 75 were A. persicus, 41 were A. stellatus, 1 was A. nudiventris and 1 was A. guldenstadtti. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) was calculated as 2 fish for summer cruise with the A. persicus being the most abundant species with 1.67 individuals per trawling while for A. stellatus this was 0.22. For H. huso, the CPUE was 0.05 and for A. nudiventris it was 0.04. For winter cruise, the CPUE was calculated as 1.38 fish, again with the A. persicus as the most abundant with 0.88, while that of the A. stellatus was 0.48. The CPUE for A. guldenstadtti and A. nudiventris was 0.01 in the winter cruise

Stock assessment of juvenile sturgeons in the Iranian water of the Caspian Sea by bottom trawl survey

The sturgeon stock assessment was performed to aim at estimation of absolute and relative abundance and determination of species composition at lower 10 m depths using the Si-Sara2 RV vessel in the Iranian coasts of the Caspian Sea in Guilan, Mazandaran and Golestan provinces during 6-30 September 2011-2012. In this study, 40 stations were selected on the basis of stratified random sampling design and then the stock estimation was performed using the swept area method. The study was carried out using bottom trawling with 9 m head rope. The time and speed of trawling in each station were 30 minutes and 2.5 knots respectively. The Catch per Unit of Effort (CPUE) in 2011–2012 were 7.03 and 6.96 individuals per trawling, respectively. The catch per unit of area in these years were found to be 1662 and 1644 fish in nm2, respectively.Total abundance of sturgeon juveniles was 13,327,164 individuals in 2011. So, the species composition included A. persicus (87.8%) and A. stellatus (12.2%). Total abundance of sturgeon juveniles was found to be 14,364,882 individuals in 2012 and the species composition comprised A. persicus (61.4%) and A. stellatus (38.6%). In 2011 the biomass of sturgeons in Iranian coastal water of the Caspian Sea was 295 tons and the composition of biomass included A. persicus (81.5%) and A. stellatus (18.5%), respectively. In the cruises conducted in 2011, this amount was estimated to be 217 tons comprising A. persicus (54.2%) and A. stellatus (45.8%), respectively. The results of this study in 2011–2012 showed remarkable abundance of juvenile sturgeons in Iranian coastal waters of the Caspian Sea in late summer and early autumn. So, by conserving these valuable stocks, the number of spawners will be increased in the future

Efficiency of gillnets with 170mm mesh size in reduction of immature Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus, catch

This study was carried out in Turkmen fishing station to examine suitable mesh size of gill nets for Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus, to decrease possibility of catching immature specimens and increase catch likelihood for larger fish. The Holt model was used to determine suitable length for catch and selection of mature Persian sturgeon females. Following preliminary studies some 920 experimental gill nets (mesh size 170mm) similar to those generally used by Iranian Fisheries except for mesh size (150mm) were set up in the Caspian Sea. During the experimental period, 128 and 110 sturgeons were caught in control and experimental nets, respectively. Out of those caught in control nets, 63 specimens were Persian sturgeon (49.2%), 57 were Stellate sturgeon, Acipenser stellatus (44.5%) while in the experimental nets, 95 specimens (86.4%) were Persian sturgeon and 7 specimens (6.4%) were Stellate sturgeon. Regarding maturity status of fishes, 42 Persian sturgeon caught in control nets were mature females while this figure was 83 (87.4%) in experimental nets. Mean fork length of the Persian sturgeon was 152.9±13.8cm and 162.4±13.6cm in control and experimental nets, respectively. The mean caviar yield of the Persian sturgeon in control nets was 6.4±1.7 kg and in experimental nets was 7.4±1.9kg. One way ANOVA and Tukey’s test showed significant differences between factors like age, mean caviar yield and fork length of the Persian sturgeon caught in control and experimental nets. The results showed increasing mesh size of gill nets to 170mm for the Persian sturgeon may help achieving objectives of stock managements including decrease in catch of immature fish and increase in catch of mature and larger sturgeons which can secure optimum and sustainable stock yield

About Gravitomagnetism

The gravitomagnetic field is the force exerted by a moving body on the basis of the intriguing interplay between geometry and dynamics which is the analog to the magnetic field of a moving charged body in electromagnetism. The existence of such a field has been demonstrated based on special relativity approach and also by special relativity plus the gravitational time dilation for two different cases, a moving infinite line and a uniformly moving point mass, respectively. We treat these two approaches when the applied cases are switched while appropriate key points are employed. Thus, we demonstrate that the strength of the resulted gravitomagnetic field in the latter approach is twice the former. Then, we also discuss the full linearized general relativity and show that it should give the same strength for gravitomagnetic field as the latter approach. Hence, through an exact analogy with the electrodynamic equations, we present an argument in order to indicate the best definition amongst those considered in this issue in the literature. Finally, we investigate the gravitomagnetic effects and consequences of different definitions on the geodesic equation including the second order approximation terms.Comment: 16 pages, a few amendments have been performed and a new section has been adde

The Character as subjective interface

This paper re-frames virtual interactive characters as " subjective interfaces " with the purpose of highlighting original affordances for interactive story-telling through conversation. This notion is theoretically unpacked in the perspectives of narratology, interaction design and game design. Existing and imagined scenarios are presented in which subjective interfaces are elevated as core interaction mechanics. Finally, technical challenges posed by this approach are reviewed alongside relevant existing research leads.Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Société et Cultur

Early and Late Reoperation Rates With Various MIS Techniques for Adult Spinal Deformity Correction.

Study designA multicenter retrospective review of an adult spinal deformity database.ObjectiveWe aimed to characterize reoperation rates and etiologies of adult spinal deformity surgery with circumferential minimally invasive surgery (cMIS) and hybrid (HYB) techniques.MethodsInclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, and one of the following: coronal Cobb >20°, sagittal vertical axis >5 cm, pelvic tilt >20°, and pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis >10°. Patients with either cMIS or HYB surgery, ≥3 spinal levels treated with 2-year minimum follow-up were included.ResultsA total of 133 patients met inclusion for this study (65 HYB and 68 cMIS). Junctional failure (13.8%) was the most common reason for reoperation in the HYB group, while fixation failure was the most common reason in the cMIS group (14.7%). There was a higher incidence of proximal junctional failure (PJF) than distal junctional failure (DJF) within HYB (12.3% vs 3.1%), but no significant differences in PJF or DJF rates when compared to cMIS. Early (<30 days) reoperations were less common (cMIS = 1.5%; HYB = 6.1%) than late (>30 days) reoperations (cMIS = 26.5%; HYB = 27.7%), but early reoperations were more common in the HYB group after propensity matching, largely due to infection rates (10.8% vs 0%, P = .04).ConclusionsAdult spinal deformity correction with cMIS and HYB techniques result in overall reoperation rates of 27.9% and 33.8%, respectively, at minimum 2-year follow-up. Junctional failures are more common after HYB approaches, while pseudarthrosis/fixation failures happen more often with cMIS techniques. Early reoperations were less common than later returns to the operating room in both groups, but cMIS demonstrated less risk of infection and early reoperation when compared with the HYB group

Stock assessment of Acipenser persicus in the southern Caspian Sea, 2008-2009

Species composition, relative abundance, absolute abundance and biomass of sturgeon species were studied during the years 2008-2009. Eighty five stations were covered in the stratified random sampling design in depths less than 10m using 9m bottom trawl (head line) and in depths more than 10m using 24.7m bottom trawl (head line). More than 70 specimens of Acipenser persicus were caught during the effort. CPUE decreased from 0.4 to 0.24 specimens per trawl in 2009. The mean total length of the A. persicus was 47.3 ±29.1cm and 61.9 ±28.7cm in 2008 to 2009, respectively. The smallest size of A. persicus was 9cm in 2008 and 24.5cm in 2009, while the maximum size was 102.5cm in 2008 and 126.5 ±29cm in 2009. The mean total weight in 2009 in comparison with 2008 increased from 989(3-5000g) to 1569(42-7100g). Absolute abundance of A. persicus decreased from 2006000 specimens in 2008 to 1192000 specimens in 2009. The estimated biomass was 2010 and 1878 tons in 2008 and 2009, respectively. According to the results of study, the stock status of A. persicus is highly critical in the Caspian Sea and a timely decision has to be taken for conservation of the species

Is There a Patient Profile That Characterizes a Patient With Adult Spinal Deformity as a Candidate for Minimally Invasive Surgery?

Study designRetrospective review.ObjectivesThe goal of this study was to evaluate the baseline characteristics of patients chosen to undergo traditional open versus minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for adult spinal deformity (ASD).MethodsA multicenter review of 2 databases including ASD patients treated with surgery. Inclusion criteria were age >45 years, Cobb angle minimum of 20°, and minimum 2-year follow-up. Preoperative radiographic parameters and disability outcome measures were reviewed.ResultsA total of 350 patients were identified: 173 OPEN patients and 177 MIS. OPEN patients were significantly younger than MIS patients (61.5 years vs 63.74 years, P = .013). The OPEN group had significantly more females (87% vs 76%, P = .006), but both groups had similar body mass index. Preoperative lumbar Cobb was significantly higher for the OPEN group (34.2°) than for the MIS group (26.0°, P < .001). The mean preoperative Oswestry Disability Index was significantly higher in the MIS group (44.8 in OPEN patients and 49.8 in MIS patients, P < .011). The preoperative Numerical Rating Scale value for back pain was 7.2 in the OPEN group and 6.8 in the MIS group preoperatively, P = .100.ConclusionsPatients chosen for MIS for ASD are slightly older and have smaller coronal deformities than those chosen for open techniques, but they did not have a substantially lesser degree of sagittal malalignment. MIS surgery was most frequently utilized for patients with an sagittal vertical axis under 6 cm and a baseline pelvic incidence and lumbar lordosis mismatch under 30°