Secondary immunization inhibits drug induced apoptosis<Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis>

Immunization with a proper dose of an antigenic stimulus leads to cell proliferation and antibody response of circulating lymphocytes. We have previously observed that Secondary immunized spleenocytes resist ceramide-mediated apoptosisin vitro. Our present study is aimed at investigating thein vivo effect of immunization on apoptosis. Mice were subjected to either Primary or Secondary dose with Tetanus Toxoid. Unimmunized spleenocytes served as controls. Unimmunized, Primary and Secondary immunized mice were later exposed to chemotherapeutic drugs such as Etoposide/Methotrexate/Vincristine to induce apoptosis. Apoptosis was studied by using the Feulgen reaction on 5μ thin parafin sections of spleen. It was observed that Secondary immunized mice showed a lower percentage of apoptosis as compared to Primary or Unimmunized mice that was subjected to either of the chemotherapeutic drugs. It was thus concluded that Secondary immunization inhibits the process of chemotherapeutic drug induced apoptosis in vivo.     

Maintenance of responding when reinforcement becomes delayed

In four experiments with rats, we examined the persistence of behavior when reinforcement was switched from immediate to delayed. In Experiment 1, lever pressing elicited by instrumental training with immediate reinforcement continued when a 20-sec delay of reinforcement was introduced (easy-to-hard condition), whereas when the delay condition was introduced from the start (hard-to-hard condition), responding remained low throughout. A similar result was obtained in Experiment 2, in which lever pressing was elicited by a classical conditioning (autoshaping) procedure. In Experiment 3, rats initially trained with delayed reinforcement continued to respond at a low rate when switched to immediate reinforcement (hard-to-easy condition). By measuring magazine entry (goal tracking) as well as lever pressing (sign tracking) in Experiment 4, we confirmed that such transfer effects at least partly involve the persistence of whatever type of behavior was initially dominant.     

Virtual Microscopy as a Learning Tool in Brazilian Medical Education

Virtual microscopy (VM) is a widely used teaching method in Medical Education in many developed countries. In Brazil, however, this is not the case for most medical schools, considering Brazilian social inequality and uneven access to technology. Recently, the Covid-19 pandemic has also challenged Universities to seek and make a transition toward more effective methods of full-time online education. Thus, the main goal of this work was to verify student's perception and academic performance, assessed upon VM implementation in a Brazilian Medical School. Ribeirao Preto Medical School students answered a 26-question survey with regards to optical microscopy (OM) and VM. Academic performance was compared between participants that were (year of 2019) or were not (year of 2015) exposed to VM. Taken the results together, subjective impressions such as handling, suitability, learning effectiveness, and pleasure using the tools, have shown a higher score for virtual microscopy (median = 29), when compared to optical microscopy (median = 24) with a P-value < 0.001 by Wilcoxon rank test, upon measurement using an ordinal scale. Regarding academic performance, no statistically significant differences were found between groups (P-value = 0.38, Cohen's d = 0.19). Therefore, VM proved to be adequate to the Brazilian medical education in light of Brazilian social contexts and Covid-19 pandemic.     

Hierarchical Models of Social Competence in Preschool Children: A Multisite,Multinational Study

The generality of a multilevel factorial model of social competence (SC) for preschool children was tested in a 5‐group, multinational sample (N = 1,540) using confirmatory factor analysis. The model fits the observed data well, and tests constraining paths for measured variables to their respective first‐order factors across samples also fit well. Equivalence of measurement models was found at sample and sex within‐sample levels but not for age within sample. In 2 groups, teachers’ ratings were examined as correlates of SC indicators. Composites of SC indicators were significantly associated with both positive and negative child attributes from the teachers’ ratings. The findings contribute to understanding of both methodological and substantive issues concerning SC in young children.     

Teaching values in physical education classes: the perception of Brazilian teachers

The contribution of Physical Education (PE) and School Sport to learning of values has been identified by teachers and researchers. However, we know little about how that teaching takes place during classes. This study aimed to understand the perceptions of teachers on teaching values in their classes and to analyse the conception of values that have guided their professional intervention. To do this, a qualitative study was conducted with a sample of three teachers, using class observations and interviews with the teachers as research tools. For all these teachers, teaching values is a central goal of PE classes; for two of the teachers, it is the main goal. Because of this conviction, their pedagogies prioritize the teaching of moral values over others that can be taught in PE. A belief in the possibility of teaching values in the classroom is part of the habitus of the PE teacher; it can sometimes be characterized as an illusio. For these reasons, teachers can set unrealistic expectations, disregarding their own limitations as well as the conflicts and complexity involved in the construction of value systems.     

Contribution of limbs’ actions to the four competitive swimming strokes: a nonlinear approach

The aim of our study was to assess the effect of the limbs’ actions on the nonlinear properties of the four competitive swimming strokes. Forty-nine swimmers performed all-out sprints at front-crawl, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly, each one at full stroke (FS), only the arms’ stroke (AS), and only leg kicking (LK), in a total of 12 bouts, 6 per day. A speedo-meter cable was attached to the swimmer’s hip, to collect the speed-time raw data (f = 50Hz). Velocity, speed fluctuation, sample entropy and fractal dimension were derived from the speed-time series. Significant and moderate-strong effects were noted for both stroke and condition in all variables in the study (p ≤ 0.001; 0,560<η² < 0,952). The four competitive strokes and their three conditions exhibited nonlinear properties. The swimming pattern was less complex and more predictable for LK in comparison to AS and FS. Breaststroke and butterfly have more complex but more predictable patterns than backstroke and front-crawl.     

The continuous nature of timing reprogramming in an interceptive task

The time course of movement timing reprogramming was examined in a task requiring temporal coincidence of the conclusion of a forehand drive with the arrival of a moving luminous target at the end of an electronic trackway. The moving target departed from one end of the trackway at a constant velocity of 2?m ^. s^?1, and for a part of the trials its velocity was increased to 3?m ^. s^?1. Target velocity was modified at different moments during stimulus displacement, producing times-to-arrival after velocity increment (TAVIs) from 100 to 600?ms. The effect of specific practice on movement reprogramming was also examined. The results showed early adjustments to the action (TAVIs = 100?–?200?ms) that seemed to be stereotyped, while feedback-based corrections were implemented only at TAVIs of 300?ms or longer. Temporal accuracy was progressively increased as longer TAVIs were provided up to 600?ms. Skill training led to an overall increment of temporal accuracy, but no effect of specific practice was found. The results indicate that timing reprogramming in interceptive actions is a continuous process limited mainly by intrinsic factors: latency to initiate more effective adjustments to the action, and rate-of-movement timing reprogramming.     

Effects of concurrent training on interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and C-reactive protein in middle-aged men

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of moderate- to high-intensity resistance and concurrent training on inflammatory biomarkers and functional capacity in sedentary middle-aged healthy men. Participants were selected on a random basis for resistance training (n = 12), concurrent training (n = 11) and a control group (n = 13). They performed three weekly sessions for 16 weeks (resistance training: 10 exercises with 3 × 8–10 repetition maximum; concurrent training: 6 exercises with 3 × 8–10 repetition maximum, followed by 30 minutes of walking or running at 55–85% [Vdot]O_2peak). Maximal strength was tested in bench press and leg press. The peak oxygen uptake ([Vdot]O_2peak) was measured by an incremental exercise test. Tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein were determined. The upper- and lower-body maximal strength increase for both resistance (+42.52%; +20.9%, respectively) and concurrent training (+28.35%; +21.5%, respectively) groups (P = 0.0001).[Vdot]O_2peak increased in concurrent training when comparing pre- and post-training (P = 0.0001; +15.6%). No differences were found in tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 for both groups after the exercise. C-reactive protein increased in resistance training (P = 0.004). These findings demonstrated that 16 weeks of moderate- to high-intensity training could improve functional capacity, but did not decrease inflammatory biomarkers in middle-aged men.     

Balance and proprioception responses to FIFA 11+ in amateur futsal players: Short and long-term effects

ABSTRACT

Background: The FIFA 11+ has shown positive effects on balance and proprioception parameters in football players. As there have been very few research studies involving futsal, we examined the short and long term effects of the FIFA 11+ on static and dynamic balance, as well as proprioception in male amateur futsal players.

Methods: Seventy-one male futsal players were randomized to two groups (FIFA 11+: n = 37, age: 27.33 ± 4.33 years; Control: n = 34, age: 25.55 ± 4.65 years). Intervention lasted 10 weeks, 2 sessions per week, succeeded by a 10-week follow-up period. For balance testing, we assessed the single-legged postural sway with a force platform (static balance) and the Y balance test (dynamic balance). Proprioception was assessed with active joint position sense testing.

Results: Complete pre-post intervention and follow-up tests were available for 61 players. The FIFA 11+ group showed higher training exposure and lower body mass index and body weight. After adjustment for baseline differences, no significant differences between groups were observed in the pre-post changes for centre of pressure measures, Y-balance and proprioception parameters both at short and long-term.

Conclusions: Performing FIFA 11+ for 10 weeks did not improve static and dynamic balance as well as proprioception in amateur futsal players.     

Changing attitudes and intentions related to doping: An analysis of individual differences in need for cognition

ABSTRACT

Research has shown that athletes’ attitudes towards the use of banned performance-enhancing substances are reliable predictors of their intentions to use these substances, which in turn can be relevant predictors of their actual doping behaviours. Despite the important role played by attitudes and intentions in doping, research analysing how to change those attitudes and intentions is relatively scarce. The present study examined how individual differences in Need for Cognition (NC, Cacioppo & Petty, 1982) influenced doping-related attitude change and subsequent behavioural intentions. Participants were randomly assigned to read a persuasive message either against or in favour of legalising the use of several banned substances, including anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) and Erythropoietin (EPO). In addition, participants completed the NC scale, and finally reported their attitudes and behavioural intentions regarding the legalisation proposal. As hypothesised, results showed that participants who received an anti-legalisation message had significantly more unfavourable attitudes towards the proposal than participants who received a pro-legalisation message, regardless of NC. However, as predicted, NC moderated the relationship between individuals’ attitudes and their intentions. That is, high-NC participants showed greater attitude-intention correspondence than low-NC participants.