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Let S be the unit sphere and B the unit ball in C n , and denote by L 1 ( S ) the usual Lebesgue space of integrable functions on S . We define four “composition operators” acting on L 1 ( S ) and associated with a Borel function φ : S → B ¯ , by first taking one of four natural extensions of f ∈ L 1 ( S ) to a function on B ¯ , then composing with φ and taking radial limits. Classical composition operators acting on Hardy spaces of holomorphic functions correspond to a special case. Our main results provide characterizations of when the operators we introduce are bounded or compact on L t ( S ) , 1 ≤ t ∞ . Dependence on t and relations between the characterizations for the different operators are also studied.

CONTEXT There are insufficient data on the long-term, nonsurgical, nonpharmacologic treatment of obesity. OBJECTIVE To determine changes in weight over 5 years in participants enrolled between April 1, 2007, and December 31, 2014, in a medically supervised weight management program at Kaiser Permanente Northern California Medical Centers. The program consisted of 3 phases: Complete meal replacement for 16 weeks; transition phase, 17 to 29 weeks; and lifestyle maintenance phase, 30 to 82 weeks. DESIGN Retrospective observational study of 10,693 participants (2777 available for analysis at 5 years); no comparator group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Average change in weight from baseline to follow-up. RESULTS Average age was 51.1 (standard deviation = 12.4) years, and 72.8% were women. Average baseline weight in the entire cohort was 112.9 kg (standard error [SE] = 0.23). Weight (kg) significantly changed over time: 4 months, -17.3 (SE = 0.12); 1 year, -14.2 (SE = 0.12); 2 years, -8.6 (SE = 0.14); 3 years, -6.9 (SE = 0.17); 4 years, -6.5 (SE = 0.16), and 5 years, -6.4 (SE = 0.29); p < 0.0001). In those with 5-year follow-up, weight loss between 5.0 and 9.9% below baseline occurred in 16.3% (SE = 0.004, 95% CI = 15.3% - 17.2%) and weight loss of 10.0% or more of baseline occurred in 35.2% (SE = 0.01, 95% CI = 33.6% - 36.7%). CONCLUSION The average weight change of obese adults who participated in a medically supervised weight management program, with available 5-year data, was a statistically and clinically significant 5.8% weight loss from baseline.

Evidence of the relationship between left ventricular hypertrophy and urinary albumin excretion is contradictory and limited in black adults in whom hypertensive heart disease is common. We aimed to investigate the relationship between subclinical left ventricular hypertrophy and albuminuria in non-diabetic hypertensive blacks. Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) was determined from 8-hour overnight urine collection. We recorded ambulatory blood pressure and 12-lead electrocardiogram during a typical working day. Cornell product (P = .002), UACR (P = .042), 24-hour systolic pressure (P .0001), and 24-hour pulse pressure (P .0001) were higher in the hypertensive group. Cornell product was associated with UACR in single (r = 0.25; P = .012), partial (P trend = .002), and multiple regression (β = 0.326; P = .0005) analyses in the hypertensive group only, even below the threshold for microalbuminuria and independent of 24-hour systolic pressure. Urinary albumin excretion is associated with subclinical left ventricular hypertrophy in non-diabetic hypertensive blacks and may be a useful marker of early cardiovascular disease in blacks.

Let Ω be an open simply connected proper subset of the complex plane. We identify, up to isomorphism, which groups are possible for the group of unitary composition operators of a Hardy-Smirnov space defined on Ω. We also study the relationship between the geometry of Ω and the corresponding group.

Background/Objectives: Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is a cofactor for nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Oxidative stress, reported in black populations (1), may lead to the oxidation of BH4, the uncoupling of eNOS, decreased NO and increased superoxide levels (2,3). We compared BH4 and markers of oxidative stress and their association, between black and white cohorts. Methods: In the African-PREDICT study, we included black (n = 300) and white (N = 297) participants (aged 20–30 years). We measured blood pressure, and determined serum levels of BH4 and markers of oxidative stress. Results: Blacks had higher blood pressure (p < 0.001). In blacks the following serum levels were lower: BH4 (p < 0.0001), total antioxidant status (TAS) (p < 0.0001), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), while reactive oxygen species (ROS) (p < 0.03) was higher. In blacks BH4 related positively with GPx in single, partial (adjusted for socio-economic status, sex, age, BMI, GGT and cotinine) and multiple regression (R2 = 0.16, β = 0.17, p = 0.02) and glutathione reductase (GR) (R2 = 0.16, β = 0.15, p = 0.05). We found a negative correlation between BH4 and GPx (R2 = 0.07, β = −0.26, p = 0.0006) in whites. Conclusions: Higher oxidative stress levels in young blacks (increased ROS, lower TAS and GPx) could explain the low concentrations of BH4, the possible uncoupling of eNOS, resulting in higher blood pressure. The uncoupling of eNOS may explain the production of ROS and peroxinitrite and may be linked to the positive correlation of BH4 with GPx and GR found in blacks, that may lead to early vascular changes.

Universities are increasing their efforts to more clearly demonstrate their social value. This article illustrates how higher education administrators can incorporate collective impact partnerships in their community benefit strategies. The article explores two of the more familiar paradigms for community benefit—community engagement and anchor institution. Collective impact principles and practices are then presented. Finally, a case study provides a tangible example of how one university’s role in a collective impact initiative transitioned in response to the community. We end the article with ten takeaways and an invitation for higher education administrators to identify their own learning and action steps that can help shift focus from proving to improving their institution’s value to the community.

Marinobufagenin (MBG) is an endogenous steroidal α1-Na+K+-ATPase inhibitor. Because of its role in sodium handling, MBG has been associated with both antihypertensive and prohypertensive effects in normal physiology and pathology. MBG is positively associated with blood pressure in Dahl salt-sensitive rats exhibiting a similar hypertensive phenotype to black populations, characterized by impaired urinary Na+ excretion. However, clinical studies exploring blood pressure (BP)-related effects of MBG in black populations are scant. We determined whether the MBG/Na+ ratio (assessing the effectiveness of Na+ excretion resistance to MBG) is related to systolic BP (SBP) in young black men and women, compared to whites. We included 331 apparently healthy participants (20–30 years) (42.9% black, 43.8% men) on a habitual diet. We obtained 24-h and central SBP, and 24-h urinary Na+ and MBG levels. We found no ethnic differences in MBG, Na+ or MBG/Na+. MBG excretion correlated positively with Na+ excretion in all groups and to SBP in white men and black women (p ≤ 0.011). In black women only SBP related positively to MBG/Na+ in single and multi-variable adjusted regression models: central SBP (R2 = 0.26; s = 0.28; p = 0.039), 24-h SBP (R2 = 0.46; s = 0.30; p = 0.011), daytime (R2 = 0.38; s = 0.28; p = 0.023) and nighttime SBP (R2 = 0.38; s = 0.33; p = 0.009). In contrast, inverse associations of MBG/Na+ with nighttime SBP were evident in white women (r = −0.20; p = 0.038) but lost significance after multiple adjustments (R2 = 0.36; s = −0.13; p = 0.12). We found independent positive associations of SBP with MBG/Na+ in black women. This data supports the concept that reduced MBG-mediated Na+ excretion can contribute to adverse hemodynamics.

The purpose of this study was to investigate "earthing" from an electrical perspective through measurement and analysis of the naturally occurring electron flow between the human body or a control and ground as this relates to the magnitude of the charge exchange, the relationship between the charge exchange and body functions (respiration and heart rate), and the detection of other information that might be contained in the charge exchange.Sensitive, low-noise instrumentation was designed and fabricated to measure low-level current flow at low frequencies. This instrumentation was used to record current flow between human subjects or a control and ground, and these measurements were performed approximately 40 times under varied circumstances. The results of these measurements were analyzed to determine if information was contained in the current exchange.The currents flowing between the human body and ground were small (nanoamperes), and they correlated with subject motion. There did not appear to be any information contained in this exchange except for information about subject motion.This study showed that currents flow between the environment (earth) and a grounded human body; however, these currents are small (nanoamperes) and do not appear to contain information other than information about subject motion.

This case study focused on pressure, stereotype threat, choking, and the coping experiences of the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team during the period from 2004-2011 leading into their success at the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC). Employing a narrative approach this case study examined public expectation, pressure, and coach-led coping strategies designed to “avoid the choke” by the All Blacks team. An in-depth interview was completed with one of the All Blacks’ coaches and analyzed via collaborative thematic analysis (Riessman, 2008). In addition multiple secondary data sources (e.g., coach & player autobiographies; media interviews) were analyzed via holistic-content analysis (Lieblich et al., 1998). Collectively these analyses revealed five key themes: public expectation and pressure, learning from 2007 RWC, coping with RWC pressure, decision-making under pressure, and avoiding the choke. Practical recommendations are offered for team sport coaches with respect to coping with pressure and avoiding choking.

γδ T cells are resident in AT and increase during diet-induced obesity. Their possible contribution to the inflammatory response that accompanies diet-induced obesity was investigated in mice after a 5 to 10 week milk HFD. The HFD resulted in significant increases in CD44hi, CD62Llo, and TNF-α+ γδ T cells in eAT of WT mice. Mice deficient in all γδ T cells (TCRδ−/−) or only Vγ4 and Vγ6 subsets (Vγ4/6−/−) were compared with WT mice with regard to proinflammatory cytokine production and macrophage accumulation in eAT. Obesity among these mouse strains did not differ, but obese TCRδ−/− and Vγ4/6−/− mice had significantly reduced eAT expression of F4/80, a macrophage marker, and inflammatory mediators CCL2 and IL-6 compared with WT mice. Obese TCRδ−/− mice had significantly reduced CD11c+ and TNF-α+ macrophage accumulation in eAT after 5 and 10 weeks on the HFD, and obese Vγ4/6−/− mice had significantly increased CD206+ macrophages in eAT after 5 weeks on the diet and significantly reduced macrophages after 10 weeks. Obese TCRδ−/− mice had significant reductions in systemic insulin resistance and inflammation in liver and skeletal muscle after longer-term HFD feeding (10 and 24 weeks). In vitro studies revealed that isolated γδ T cells directly stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage TNF-α expression but did not stimulate inflammatory mediator expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. These findings are consistent with a role for γδ T cells in the proinflammatory response that accompanies diet-induced obesity.

Introduction: We investigated the effect of contraction intensity [100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC)] and movement velocity (50°, 100°, 200°, and 400°/s) on surface electromyography root mean square amplitude (SEMGRMS) and median frequency (SEMGMDF) of rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), and vastus medialis (VM). Methods: SEMGs during knee extension were resolved into their respective frequencies using wavelet transformations. Results: RF, VL, and VM muscles displayed increased SEMGMDF as contraction intensity increased from 25% to 50% MVC and from 75% to 100% MVC, and each muscle displayed its own unique frequency shifting patterns. The SEMGMDF was not influenced by movement velocity. SEMGRMS increased in all 3 muscles as contraction intensity increased and was influenced by movement velocity, with the highest values observed at 400° and 200°/s. Conclusions: We infer that increasing contraction intensity facilitates greater recruitment of fast-twitch muscle fibers, but there are differing responses in RF, VL, and VM muscles. Muscle Nerve 50: 844–853, 2014

When observing skill and determining the competency of children and youth physical education teachers often focus on the coordination dynamics within the individual in the early years and then the individual's ability to play the game as they develop. But in these game contexts the focus is often still on the individuals' actions and not the relational dynamics that exist between individuals. This article questions why we give priority to the fundamental movement skills (FMS) in the early years and game skills in late childhood and youth years. Drawing on the notion of complementary pairs, which questions binary logic, the article advocates a practical pedagogy that recognises the complementary relationship between FMS and fundamental game skills (FGS). Complementary pairing is designated by the squiggle (∼) character as opposed to a hyphen (–), which links the two components or backslash (/) that separates them to show the different but inextricable relationship between the pair. In this case FMS∼FGS are...

Let f and g be analytic on the unit disk \({\mathbb{D}}\). The integral operator T g is defined by \({ T_g f(z) = \int_0^z f(t)g'(t) \,dt, z \in \mathbb{D}}\). The problem considered is characterizing those symbols g for which T g acting on H ∞, the space of bounded analytic functions on \({\mathbb{D}}\), is bounded or compact. When the symbol is univalent, these become questions in univalent function theory. The corresponding problems for the companion operator, \({ S_g f(z)= \int_0^z f'(t)g(t) \,dt}\), acting on H ∞ are also studied.

The operator that takes the function f to ψ f ∘ φ is a weighted composition operator. We study numerical ranges of some classes of weighted composition operators on H 2 , the Hardy–Hilbert space of the unit disc. We consider the case where φ is a rotation of the unit disc and identify a class of convexoid operators. In the case of isometric weighted composition operators we give a complete classification of their numerical ranges. We also consider the inclusion of zero in the interior of the numerical range.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fiber color is influenced by biotic and abiotic factors as well as genetics. After boll opening, exposure to the elements modifies fiber color; fibers may become grayer (excessive moisture leading to biotic activity) and lose luster (lower reflectance). Excessive weathering will lead to poorer processing efficiency and lower dye uptake. Genetically whiter cotton fibers could result in reduced use of bleaching agents before dyeing, thus lowering production costs and providing a more environmentally-friendly product. Cotton cultivars TAM B182–33 ELS (Extra Long Staple) and Tamcot CAMD-E were crossed with 12 cultivars from China, 7 from northern Africa, 10 from southern Africa, and 7 from the United States and grown in a line x tester design at College Station, TX during 2010 and 2011. Seedcotton was harvested by hand on the day of maturity, deburred, and allowed to dry in limited light. Lint was separated into 2-g subsamples, and color measurements were taken using a Konica-Minolta CR-310 reflectance colorimeter. Absolute color measurements were obtained in the CIE L*a*b* color system. General and specific combining abilities for all the variables were determined. Genetic variation existed for all color parameters measured. The cultivars A 7215 (southern Africa), Tejas (United States), PAN 575 (northern Africa), Lintsing Sze Tze 4B (China), F 280 (northern Africa), and Nanging #12 (China) and their F₁ progenies demonstrated superior whiteness. PAN 575 was the best general combiner for whiteness with the two testers in the study.

This case study focused on the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team during the period from 2004 to 2011, when Graham Henry (head coach) and Wayne Smith (assistant coach) coached and managed the team. More specifically, this case study examined the motivational climate created by this coaching group that culminated in winning the Rugby World Cup in 2011. In-depth interviews were completed with Henry and Smith in March 2012. A collaborative thematic content analysis revealed eight themes, regarding motivational issues and the motivational climate for the 2004–2011 All Blacks team: (i) critical turning point, (ii) flexible and evolving, (iii) dual-management model, (iv) “Better People Make Better All Blacks,” (v) responsibility, (vi) leadership, (vii) expectation of excellence, and (viii) team cohesion. These findings are discussed in light of autonomy-supportive coaching, emotionally intelligent coaching, and transformational leadership. Finally, practical recommendations are offered for coaches of elite sports teams.

Objectives Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has potent endothelial-protective, anti-platelet and anti-thrombotic activities, and also exerts mitogenic and proliferatory actions on vascular smooth muscle cells. Conflicting reports exist regarding the role of IGF-1 in vascular protection and atherogenesis. We therefore investigated the relationships of ambulatory blood pressure (BP) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) with a range of components of the IGF-1 axis in a bi-ethnic population. Methods We included black (N = 86) and white (N = 101) men and measured growth hormone, total IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) levels. Results Ambulatory BP was almost 10 mmHg higher in black men (137/88 mmHg versus 128/80 mmHg; both p < 0.001), accompanied by an adverse profile of the IGF-axis for all measured components (all p < 0.01), including reduced bioavailable IGF-1 (IGF-1/IGFBP-3; p = 0.006) and tissue IGF-1 accessibility index as represented by IGF-1.PAPP-A/IGFBP-3 (p < 0.001). Single, partial and multiple regression analyses confirmed an independent inverse association between ambulatory systolic BP and bioavailable IGF-1 in black men (R2 = 0.24; β = −0.22; p = 0.035). cIMT was similar in the ethnic groups (p = 0.34), and was negatively associated with bioavailable IGF-1 in white men (R2 = 0.42; β = −0.17; p = 0.039) prior to adjustment for γ-glutamyl transferase (R2 = 0.45; β = −0.10; p = 0.25). Conclusion Ambulatory systolic BP is inversely related to bioavailable IGF-1 in black men who displayed low IGF-1 concentrations. An inverse relation was found between cIMT and IGF-1 in white men, which disappeared after correction for γ-glutamyl transferase – opposing reports of a detrimental role of IGF-1 in the early stages of atherogenesis.

As an early responder to an inflammatory stimulus, neutrophils (PMNs) must exit the vasculature and migrate through the extravascular tissue to the site of insult, which is often remote from the point of extravasation. Following a central epithelial corneal abrasion, PMNs recruited from the peripheral limbal vasculature migrate into the avascular corneal stroma. In vitro studies suggest PMN locomotion over 2-D surfaces is dependent on integrin binding while migration within 3-D matrices can be integrin-independent. Electron micrographs of injured mouse corneas show migrating PMNs make extensive surface contact not only with collagen fibrils in the extracellular matrix (ECM), but also keratocytes. Evidence supporting involvement of integrins in corneal inflammation has prompted research and development of integrin blocking agents for use as anti-inflammatory therapies. However, the role of integrin binding (cell–cell; cell–ECM) during stromal migration in the inflamed cornea has previously not been clearly defined. In this study in vivo time lapse imaging sequences provided the means to quantify cell motility while observing PMN interactions with keratocytes and other stromal components in the living eye. The relative contribution of β1, β2 and β3 integrins to PMN locomotion in the inflamed mouse cornea was investigated using blocking antibodies against the respective integrins. Of the 3 integrin families (β1, β2 and β3) investigated for their potential role in PMN migration, only β1 antibody blockade produced a significant, but partial, reduction in PMN motility. The preferential migration of PMNs along the keratocyte network was not affected by integrin blockade. Hence, the dominant mechanism for PMN motility within the corneal stroma appears to be integrin-independent as does the restriction of PMN migration paths to the keratocyte network.

Socially-critical scholarship and critical pedagogy have become increasingly central to Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) over the last three decades. The purpose of this paper is to provide a snapshot of the history of the critical project in PETE and an analysis of critical pedagogies in contemporary Western society. In this paper, the accounts of critical pedagogies are classified based on their focus on (a) critical reflection, (b) pedagogies of discomfort and (c) democratic principles, although the authors recognise that in PETE practice these categories overlap and interconnect and do not represent exclusively independent pedagogies. The paper concludes that relationships between PETE teacher educators and PETE students built on trust and care and secondly, connections between PETE teacher educators and the broader physical education teaching community are important as they provide the conditions needed to embed critical pedagogies into PETE courses and PETE programmes. Resumo Estudo sociocrítico e pedagogia crítica, nas últimas três décadas, são centrais na formação de professores de Educação Física. O objetivo deste artigo é providenciar um retrato da história do projeto crítico na formação de professores de Educação Física e oferecer uma análise das pedagogias críticas na sociedade ocidental contemporânea. Nesse texto, as representações de pedagogia crítica são classificadas nos focos sobre (a) reflexão crítica, (b) pedagogias do “desconforto”, (c) princípios democráticos, embora os autores reconheçam que na formação de professores tais categorias sobrepõem-se e não são independentes entre si. O artigo conclui que as relações entre professores e alunos na formação inicial em Educação Física são construídas com base na confiança, no cuidado e, secundariamente, que conexões entre professores que atuam na formação superior e a comunidade mais ampla que ensina Educação Física são importantes para providenciar as condições necessárias para as pedagogias críticas nos cursos e programas que formam professores. Resumen Estudio sociocrítico y pedagogía crítica, en las últimas tres décadas, son centrales en la formación de profesores de Educación Física. El objetivo de este artículo es presentar un retrato de la historia del proyecto crítico en la formación de profesores de Educación Física y ofrecer un análisis de las pedagogías críticas en la sociedad occidental contemporánea. La extensión de esa representación sugiere que los estudios sociocríticos y la pedagogía crítica continúan prosperando en los programas de formación de profesores en varios países. El artículo concluye que las relaciones entre profesores y alumnos de la formación inicial en Educación Física son construidas con base en el cuidado, en la confianza y, secundariamente, que conexiones entre profesores que actúan en la formación superior y la comunidad más amplia que enseña Educación Física son importantes para proporcionar las condiciones necesarias para las pedagogías críticas en los cursos y programas que forman profesores.

Background Increased urinary albumin excretion reflects general vascular damage and predicts adverse cardiovascular and renal outcomes. Albuminuria can be determined from easily collected spot urine samples, especially in low-resource settings. However, no prognostic evidence exists for Africans. Methods We followed clinical outcomes in 1,061 randomly selected non diabetic, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative Africans (mean age: 51.5 years; 62.0% women). Baseline urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio was assessed from spot urine samples. Results Over a median follow-up of 4.52 years, 132 deaths occurred, of which 47 were cardiovascular related. The urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio averaged 6.1 μg/mg (5th to 95th percentile interval; 1.2-70.0). In multivariable-adjusted analyses, urinary albumin excretion predicted all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR), 1.26; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.07-1.48; P = 0.006), and a tendency existed for cardiovascular mortality (HR, 1.26; 95% CI, 0.97-1.63; P = 0.087), which seemed to be driven by fatal stroke (HR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.17-2.54; P = 0.006) rather than cardiac mortality (HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.41-1.07; P = 0.094). The predictive value remained in 528 hypertensives for both all-cause (HR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.13-1.69; P = 0.001) and cardiovascular (HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.07-1.96; P = 0.017) mortality, again driven by stroke. Our findings also remained significant after we excluded participants with macroalbuminuria, those on antihypertensive treatment, as well as participants who died within 1 year after enrollment. Conclusion In nondiabetic HIV-negative Africans, albuminuria predicts all-cause and stroke mortality.

Background:This study measured serum concentrations of vascular risk factors, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) in a representative sample of older community-dwelling adults and determined their associations with objective and subjective memory impairment. Methods: Data on clinical, lifestyle, and demographic characteristics, serum ADMA, SDMA, and L-arginine (measured using LC-MS/MS) were collected from a population-based sample of older Australian adults from the Hunter Community Study. Objective memory was measured with the Audio Recorded Cognitive Screen (ARCS) neuropsychological battery and subjective memory impairment was measured using the Memory Complaint Questionnaire (MAC-Q). Results: Multivariate analysis revealed that SDMA and diabetes were significantly associated with objective memory impairment (Adjusted Odd ratio (AOR) = 3.90; 95% CI. 1.21 – 12.52 for fourth quartile (Q4) of SDMA. ADMA, SDMA, education, number of general practitioner visits and atrial fibrillation were all significantly associated with subjective memory impairment. (AOR = 1.82; 95% CI. 1.04 – 3.18 for Q4 ADMA. Conclusions: Higher serum SDMA was associated with objective and subjective memory impairment while higher serum ADMA was associated with subjective memory impairment.

It is known that low testosterone (T) and high cortisol levels are associated with hypertension as well as with chronic stress, linking stress with elevated blood pressure (BP). However, the association between acute stress-, chronic stress responses and BP is not clear in Africans. Therefore, we examined the association between cortisol, psychological distress and BP responses in low- and high-T male subgroups. Beat-to-beat and ambulatory blood pressure (ABPM) and electrocardiogram measures were obtained. Serum samples were collected and analyzed for sex hormones and cortisol. Chronic psychological distress was verified with the General Health Questionnaire and acute stress with the cold pressor test. More chronic psychological distress was observed in both low- and high-T Africans compared with the Caucasians. The low-T Africans tended to have more ischemic events (P=0.06) and ABPM values (Pless than or equal to0.01) than any of the other groups. Both chronic distress (cortisol) and acute stress (total peripheral resistance cold pressor responses) were associated with ABPM in the low-T African group. Acute and chronic stress may contribute to increased BP in low-T African men. Their cortisol and vascular responses supported a tendency for ischemia, increasing their risk for coronary artery disease. http://www.nature.com/jhh/journal/v28/n6/abs/jhh2013124a.html

Globally the prevalence of non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes, are escalating. Metabolomic studies indicated that circulating branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) are associated with insulin resistance, coronary artery disease and increased risk for cardiovascular events. We aimed to extend the current understanding of the cardiovascular risk associated with BCAAs. We explored whether BCAAs are related to markers of cardiovascular disease in a bi-ethnic population and whether this relationship was influenced by chronic hyperglycaemia. We included 200 African and 209 Caucasian participants, and determined their ambulatory blood pressure and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). We analysed blood samples for glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and BCAAs. Participants were stratified into two groups according to their HbA1c value using the median cut-off value of 5.6 %. Ambulatory BP, cIMT and BCAAs were significantly higher (all p < 0.001) in the high HbA1c group. Single regression analyses indicated significant positive associations of ambulatory blood pressure and cIMT with BCAAs (all p < 0.05) in both the groups. These associations between ambulatory systolic blood pressure (SBP) (r = 0.16, p = 0.035) and cIMT (r = 0.22, p = 0.004) with BCAAs remained in the high HbA1c group after adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity and body mass index (BMI) and were confirmed in multiple regression analyses (ambulatory SBP: R2 = 0.17, β = 0.21, p = 0.005 and cIMT: R2 = 0.30, β = 0.19, p = 0.003). Our results demonstrate that BCAAs are independently related to ambulatory BP and cIMT in individuals with high HbA1c levels and suggest that potential cardiovascular deterioration accompany the rise in BCAAs in conditions of hyperglycaemia.

Background Methylarginines are endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitors that have been implicated in depression. This study measured serum concentrations of l -arginine, asymmetric (ADMA) and symmetric (SDMA) dimethylarginine in a representative sample of older community-dwelling adults and determined their association with incident depression over 6-years of follow-up. Methods Data on clinical, lifestyle, and demographic characteristics, methylated arginines, and l -arginine (measured using LC–MS/MS) were collected from a population-based sample of older Australian adults (Median age=64 years; IQR=60–70) from the Hunter Community Study. Clinical depression was defined as a Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score ≥16 or use of antidepressant medications. Results In adjusted analyses ADMA (Q3), SDMA (Q2), l -arginine (Q2), gender, and asthma remained statistically significant predictors of incident depression at follow-up. Quartile 3 of ADMA concentration was associated with 3.5 times the odds of developing depression compared with Q1 (OR=3.54; 95% CI: 1.25–9.99). Limitations Limitations of our study include the use of a subjective self-reported questionnaire tool using a dichotomous cut-off, together with use of antidepressant medications, as proxies for clinical depression. Moreover, similarly to most population studies on methylated arginines, the measurement of ADMA and SDMA from blood does not necessarily reflect intracellular concentrations of these compounds. Finally, there were no measures of nitric oxide metabolites to determine if these levels were altered in the presence of elevated methylarginines and depression. Conclusions After adjusting for clinical, demographic, biochemical, and pharmacological confounders, higher serum ADMA was independently associated with incident depression at 6-years follow-up.

Published in Agron. J. 105:1635–1644 (2013) doi:10.2134/agronj2013.0264 Copyright © 2013 by the American Society of Agronomy, 5585 Guilford Road, Madison, WI 53711. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. C is an economically important crop and provides the world’s leading natural fiber for the textile industry (Smith et al., 1999; Ulloa et al., 2007). The future of cotton improvement depends on plant characteristics conferring not only improved water-use efficiency and heat tolerance but also disease resistance. Integrating disease resistance into high-yielding, high-fiber-quality cultivars is one of the most important objectives in cotton breeding programs (Smith et al., 1999; Ulloa et al., 2009). Host-plant resistance can be a highly effective and economical approach for dealing with disease threats such as FOV and limiting yield loss in cotton (Hutmacher et al., 2011; Ulloa et al., 2010, 2011, 2013). Eight genotypes of FOV, called races, have been described (Skovgaard et al., 2001; Kim et al., 2005). Before 1986, only Races 1 and 2 were known to occur on significant acreage in the United States (DeVay, 1986). Since FOV disease in cotton was first reported in California in 1959 (Garber and Paxman, 1963), FOV Races 1 or 2 were recognized as the causal organism and were typically found in sandy soils with root-knot nematode (RKN) [Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood] (Garber et al., 1979; Veech, 1984; Bell, 1984). The FOV fungal pathogen is a soil inhabitant that can survive for long periods in the absence of a host. Consequently, it is nearly impossible to eradicate from a field. A marked increased in the susceptibility of cultivars to FOV Race 1 was noted in the presence of RKN (Garber et al., 1979). Cotton developed for resistance to FOV on soils infested with RKN usually maintained their resistance when simultaneously challenged by both organisms, FOV Race 1 and RKN (Sasser, 1972; Heald and Orr, 1982). In 2005, University of California-Davis scientists (Kim et al., 2005) identified additional FOV races (1, 3, 4, and 8) in California soils. During the past 9 yr, FOV Race 4 has increasingly impacted cotton fields in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) of California (Hutmacher et al., 2011). In field soils with relatively high levels of FOV Race 4, extensive disease symptoms AbStrAct During the past 9 yr, a new race of Fusarium (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum [FOV Race 4]) has increasingly impacted cotton (Gossypium spp.) in the San Joaquin Valley of California. To assess the vulnerability of upland cotton (G. hirsutum L.) in California to FOV disease, elite upland germplasm lines from 13 U.S. public breeding programs across the Cotton Belt and commercial cultivars were evaluated for disease resistance to FOV Races 1 and 4. Ten independent replicated field trials were conducted: three in 2008, four in 2010, and three in 2011. Significant differences (P £ 0.05) were observed for disease severity index of leaves, vascular root staining, and plant survival values among the elite germplasm lines in all 3 yr for the levels of resistance–response to FOV Races 1 and 4. Also, significant interactions among germplasm lines, FOV races (1 and 4), and evaluation sites indicated that germplasm lines differed in mechanisms of plant-defense response for the two FOV races. Selected lines from programs in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi showed at least a moderate level of tolerance to both FOV races; however, several of these lines produced weak and coarse fibers. Based on these evaluations, many of the entries in public breeders’ current elite upland germplasm pools may be more susceptible than expected to some FOV races, and sources of acceptable levels of resistance may be limited when tested under infestation levels that resulted in only 5 to 35% plant survival in susceptible check cultivars.

Introduction Histones are small, nuclear proteins that serve to package DNA. Recent reports suggest that extracellular histones, including histone H4, may contribute to the pathogenesis of sepsis; they promote platelet aggregation and thrombosis when released into the circulation during inflammation or cell death. The mechanisms by which the body minimizes the deleterious effects of circulating histones are unclear. Because histones can bind to plasma proteins, including albumin, we hypothesized that normal albumin can prevent histones from activating platelets. Materials and Methods Platelets and platelet-free plasma were obtained from healthy, adult subjects. The dose-dependent effects of histone H4 on platelet aggregation were studied by optical aggregometry. The effects of native and albumin-depleted plasma (prepared by affinity chromatography) on histone-induced platelet aggregation were also assessed. The effects of normal and surface-neutralized albumin (through modification of carboxyl groups) on histone-induced platelet activation and aggregation were evaluated using flow cytometry and aggregometry. Results Histone H4 induced platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner. This histone-induced platelet aggregation was inhibited by both plasma and human serum albumin in a dose-dependent fashion. Furthermore, depletion of albumin from plasma reduced its ability to inhibit aggregation. Finally, surface neutralization of albumin decreased its ability to inhibit histone-induced activation and aggregation. Discussion These data suggest that normal albumin serves a role in preventing histone-induced platelet aggregation in a charge-dependent manner.

Objective To examine the prospective association between glycemic index, glycemic load (GL) of diets and intakes of carbohydrates, sugars, fiber, and the main carbohydrate containing food groups (e.g., soft drinks) with changes in percent body fat, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference among adolescents. Design and Methods Students aged 12 at baseline (n = 856) were examined both in 2004-2005 and 2009-2011. A semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire was administered. Anthropometric parameters were measured and defined using standardized protocols. Results After multivariable adjustment, in girls, each 1-SD increase in dietary GL was associated with concurrent 0.77 kg/m2 and 1.45 cm increase in BMI and waist circumference, respectively (both P = 0.01). Conversely, each 1-SD increase in dietary fiber intake was associated with a concurrent 0.44 kg/m2 decrease in mean BMI in girls (P = 0.02) and 1.45 cm decrease in waist circumference in boys (P = 0.002). Girls who consumed soft drinks once or more per day versus those who never/rarely consumed soft drinks, had a 4.45% increase in percent body fat after 5 years (Ptrend = 0.01). Conclusions High-GL foods might adversely influence development of body composition, particularly in girls, whereas fiber-rich diets could limit excess weight during adolescence.

Correction to: Hypertension Research (2016) 39, 730–736; doi:10.1038/hr.2016.48; published online 19 May 2016 After online publication of this article, the authors noticed an error in the affiliation of the list of authors. The affiliation of Rudolph Schutte and Walthard Vilser was wrong. The error has now been rectified, and the article with correct authors’ affiliations now appears in this issue.

After corneal epithelial injury, the ensuing inflammatory response is necessary for efficient wound healing. While beneficial healing effects are attributed to recruited neutrophils and platelets, dysregulated inflammation (too little or too much) is associated with impaired wound healing. The purpose of this study was to use an established C57BL/6J mouse model of corneal injury to evaluate the potential modulatory role of interleukin-20 (IL-20) on the inflammatory and healing responses to epithelial wounding. In the uninjured cornea, immunofluorescence staining for IL-20 and its receptor, IL-20RA, was observed on basal epithelial cells at the limbus. After a 2mm central epithelial abrasion, IL-20 staining was also observed in stromal keratocytes and ELISA studies showed a significant increase (nearly 3-fold) in IL-20 expression. Injured corneas healed more slowly when treated with a topical application of a neutralizing anti-IL-20 antibody. While corneal epithelial cell division and epithelial nerve recovery measured at 24 hours post-injury were reduced compared to controls, neutrophil influx into the cornea was increased. In contrast, topical application of recombinant IL-20 (rIL-20) decreased corneal inflammation as evidenced by reductions in limbal vessel dilatation, platelet extravasation, neutrophil recruitment and CXCL1 expression. In wild type mice, topical rIL-20 had a limited effect on corneal wound healing and resulted in only a slight increase in epithelial cell division and epithelial nerve recovery; the rate of wound closure was unaffected. To clarify the effect of IL-20 on corneal wound healing, rIL-20 was topically applied to neutropenic wild type (WT) mice and mutant mice (γδ T cell deficient mice and CD11a deficient mice), all of which have well characterized reductions in neutrophil recruitment and delayed wound healing after corneal injury. In each case, rIL-20 restored corneal wound healing to baseline levels while neutrophil recruitment remained low. Thus, it appears that IL-20 plays a beneficial and direct role in corneal wound healing while negatively regulating neutrophil and platelet infiltration.

Background Hypertensive heart disease is a rising concern, especially among black South African women. As high sensitivity cardiac troponin T (cTnT) is a marker of cardiomyocyte damage, we determined the potential link of (i) systemic endothelial dysfunction (reflected by urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio), (ii) large artery stiffness, (iii) cardiac volume load (estimated by the N-terminal prohormone B-type natriuretic peptide (Nt-proBNP)), and (iv) ECG left ventricular hypertrophy in post-menopausal black women. Methods In 121 (50 normotensive and 71 hypertensive) black women (mean age: 60.6 years), basic cardiovascular assessments including blood pressure and ECG were performed, along with plasma and urinary biomarkers including cTnT. Results The cTnT levels (p=0.049) along with Nt-proBNP (p=0.003), pulse pressure (p

BACKGROUND Heart failure in the African population is reaching alarming levels. Increased afterload as a result of increased vasoconstriction during stress may lead to impaired ventricular function and stroke volume (SV) as well as vascular hypertrophy. In this study, we challenged the cardiovascular system in order to evaluate the possible contribution of indicators of α-adrenergic vasoconstriction (i.e., vascular resistance and SV reactivity) on left ventricular mass and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in African and Caucasian men. METHODS We evaluated 101 African and 101 Caucasian male schoolteachers. Ambulatory blood pressure measurements were taken. Total peripheral resistance, Windkessel compliance and SV, and resting and reactivity values were obtained using a Finometer device while the Stroop color word conflict test was being applied. The electrocardiogram was recorded to obtain the Cornell product as indication of left ventricular mass. The CIMT was measured and the cross-sectional wall area (CSWA) calculated. RESULTS African men showed higher total vascular resistance resting values as well as higher positive reactivity values compared with Caucasian men. The SV decreased significantly during stress in African men while resting blood pressure and the Cornell product value increased. SV showed a consistent association with left ventricular mass (β = -0.21; P = 0.04) and CSWA (β = -0.24; P = 0.01) in single and multiple regression analyses. No such associations were evident in the Caucasian men. CONCLUSIONS African men showed a suppressed SV, possibly as a result of an increased ventricular afterload leading to end-organ damage.

Objective To clarify possible associations between cataract surgery and progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Design Clinic-based cohort. Participants We followed cataract surgical patients aged 65+ years in the Australian Cataract Surgery and Age-related Macular Degeneration (CSAMD) study. Patients who remained unilaterally phakic for at least 24 months after recruitment were included. Methods We performed annual examinations with retinal photography. We assessed AMD using side-by-side grading of images from all visits. Paired comparisons between operated and nonoperated fellow eyes (defined as nonoperated or operated Main Outcome Measures Incident early AMD was defined as the new appearance of soft indistinct/reticular drusen or coexisting retinal pigmentary abnormality and soft distinct drusen in eyes at risk of early AMD. Incident late AMD was defined as the new appearance of neovascular AMD or geographic atrophy (GA) in eyes at risk of late AMD. Results Among 2029 recruited, eligible participants, 1851 had cataract surgery performed at Westmead Hospital, Sydney, and 1244 (70.7%) had 36-month postoperative visits. Of these participants, 1178 had gradable photographs at baseline and at least 1 follow-up visit. Of 308 unilaterally operated participants at risk of late AMD, this developed in 4 (1.3%) operated and 7 (2.3%) nonoperated fellow eyes (odds ratio [OR], 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.23–2.36) after adjusting for the presence of early AMD at baseline. Of 217 unilaterally operated participants at risk of early AMD, this developed in 23 (10.6%) operated and 21 (9.7%) nonoperated fellow eyes (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.74–1.65). Incident retinal pigment abnormalities were more frequent in operated than nonoperated fellow eyes (15.3% vs. 9.9%; OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.07–2.52). There was no difference in the 3-year incidence of large soft indistinct or reticular drusen between the 2 eyes (8.8% vs. 7.9%; OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.79–1.60). Conclusions Prospective follow-up data and paired eye comparisons of this older surgical cohort showed no increased risk of developing late AMD, early AMD, or soft/reticular drusen over 3 years. There was a 60% increased detection of retinal pigmentary changes in surgical eyes. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

The effect of contraction intensity (100%-, 75%-, 50%-, and 25%-maximum voluntary contraction (MVC)) and movement velocity (0 ◦ , 100 ◦ , 200 ◦ , 300 ◦ , and 400 ◦ /s) on the root mean square amplitude (SEMG-RMS) and median frequency power spectrum (SEMG-MPF) of the surface electromyography of the vastus medialis (VM) and rectus femoris (RF) muscles during isokinetic extension movements was investigated. Eight healthy female university students (age = 23.1 ± 2.6 yrs., mean height = 161.8 ± 6.8 cm, mean weight = 64.6 ± 6.1 kg) with no known knee pathologies participated in the study. Peak moment (PM), SEMG-MPF, and SEMG-RMS were analyzed using separate repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results indicated (p 0.05): (1) an inverse relationship between PM and movement velocity, which was consistent with the literature and the force-velocity curve; (2) an increase in VM and RF SEMG-RMS across all isovelocity movements compared to isometric, with highest values occurring at 200 ◦ /s; (2) a linear increase in SEMG-RMS as force levels increased from 25%-MVC to100%-MVC; and, (3) an increase in SEMG-MPFvalues during isovelocity movements compared tothat found during isometric contractions, with highest values at 50 ◦ /s, suggesting isovelocity movements facilitated a greater recruitment of fast-twitchfibers. It appears that the degree to which the central nervous system activates muscle is based on the interplay of both contraction intensity and velocity needed to complete the required motor task.

Hypertension and obesity are serious health burdens in sub-Saharan Africa. Urbanized Africans seem to be more susceptible to the development of these diseases than Caucasians. Current research suggests that leptin may be an important contributor to the development of hypertension and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate leptin levels and their associations with cardiovascular function in urbanized Africans and Caucasians. Serum leptin, ambulatory blood pressure and carotid intima-media thickness were measured, and the cross-sectional wall area (CSWA) was calculated. The results showed that Africans had higher leptin levels (P